Free IT Asset collection
Free, Safe and secure transportation of used, unused or scrap IT assets from your location.
Inventory management during transit to ensure the safety and traceability of assets.
UK WEEE Volumes
The UK generated the second most waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) per capita in the world in 2019, behind only Norway, according to a report published by a global e-waste grouping. The Global E-waste Monitor report says the UK generates 23.9kg per capita – compared with 26kg in Norway – although WEEE produced per capita in the UK has fallen from 2016, when it stood at 24.9kg.
The third Global E-waste Monitor report for 2020 found Northern Europe was the world’s largest producer of WEEE in 2019 at 22.4 kg per capita. However, the study also says Northern Europe has one of the highest rates of WEEE recycling in the world, at 59%. The report found gold, platinum and other precious metals worth £7.9 billion were “dumped” every year as WEEE.
In 2019, a record 54 million tonnes of WEEE were generated across the globe, the report says. This is equivalent to 7.3kg for every person on Earth, though use of the equipment is concentrated in richer nations.
UK WEEE Regulations
Recycling of WEEE is a specialist part of the waste and recycling industry. It is a rapidly growing sub-sector due largely to the implementation of the original WEEE Directive in the UK by the WEEE Regulations 2006, with that came the associated requirements for the recovery, reuse, recycling and treatment of WEEE. The Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 became law in the UK on the 1st of January 2014 and replaced the 2006 Regulations.
Every year an estimated 2 million tonnes of WEEE items are discarded by householders and companies in the UK. WEEE includes most products that have a plug or need a battery. There are ten broad categories of WEEE currently outlined within the Regulations (see Schedules 1 and 2 of the Regulations), namely:
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Large household appliances
e.g., fridges, cookers, microwaves, washing machines and dishwashers
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IT and telecommunications equipment
e.g., personal computers, copying equipment, telephones and pocket calculators
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Lighting equipment
e.g., straight and compact fluorescent tubes and high intensity discharge lamps
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Toys, leisure and sports equipment
e.g., electric trains, games consoles and running machines
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Monitoring and control equipment
e.g., smoke detectors, thermostats and heating regulators
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Small household appliances
e.g., vacuum cleaners, irons, toasters and clocks
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Consumer equipment
e.g., radios, televisions, hi-fi equipment, camcorders and musical
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Electrical and electronic tools
e.g., drills, saws and sewing machines, electric lawnmowers
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Medical devices
e.g. (non-infected) dialysis machines, analysers, medical freezers and cardiology equipment
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Automatic dispensers
e.g., hot drinks dispensers and money dispensers