Retailers (and Distributors)

If you sell new electrical or electronic goods either to the trade, to the public or to businesses, then you will be required by law to establish a take back system for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

The latest Government thinking is to allow a flexible approach - where retailers can either have an in-store operation or join a compliance scheme.

Take back requirements

The WEEE Directive requires that, from the 13th August 2005 you will need to:

  • Accept the take back of WEEE from householders or businesses free of charge when a like item is sold. This can be achieved in a variety of ways at according to your method of delivery, for example: -
    • The consumer can bring back the old item to your point of sale if you do not offer a delivery service
    • The consumer can expect you to arrange the take back the old item from their premises if you deliver the new item
    • You can arrange an alternative method of take back, through a third party agreement, but this method must not make it harder for the consumer to return the product. For example, the consumer can post (at your expense) the old item to a third party because you have given them a stamped addressed envelope (this is suitable for small items such a mobile phone).
  • Let consumers know about the take-back services you offer, or alternative schemes
  • Ensure that all separately collected WEEE enters a logistical chain whereby the end result is reuse or recycling. Separately collected WEEE cannot be disposed of in a landfill site or incinerated.

Take back does not necessarily have to occur simultaneously with the new purchase. All costs incurred in providing the take back scheme are at your expense.


If your supplier is based outside the UK, you will treated as the Producer and have additional responsibilities (see information for manufacturers).

The separate take back of large household appliances, such as fridges, TV's or washing machines, is often carried out today when a new product is delivered, but this is not always a free service. It is more or less unheard of for unwanted large goods to be brought back to the point of sale when a consumer picks up a new one. This could change.

The separate collection of smaller goods, DIY or gardening tools, and most other smaller WEEE products is limited. How likely is it that consumers will return to small goods for exchange on new items, we don't know. It is NOT reasonable to assume the take back of smaller goods will be low, just because it is not common practice today. Once consumers become aware that suppliers must offer free take back it is likely that many smaller goods will be brought back.

We are urging small retailers to get together with others in their area, and with community groups and local authorities to come together to offer alternative methods of take back, which will benefit the local community.

Join the Network to find out how to facilitate the best solution for your business.


Cost

Retailers will be liable for the cost of taking back unwanted goods and the cost of delivery of the goods to the next point in the logistical chain. Your financial liability will stop once your supplier takes these goods back, or you deliver the goods to a central collection point. These points are as yet undefined, but it is possible that they will be made up of existing civic amenity sites plus others.

Retailers and Distributors are unable to claim back their costs from the producers, who are responsible for goods only after the central collection point. However, some producers may offer incentives as part of future sales promotions.

The government is considering an option of retailers paying in to fund local authority collection schemes as an alternative to in store take back. We suggest contacting your local authority recycling officer if you want a scheme in your area.


Storage and transportation

If retailers or distributors choose to take back themselves, then there will be possible requirements to register for a storage license, or an exemption license, with an enforcing body such as the Environmental Agency, for the areas where the WEEE is kept. There may also be a requirement for those who transport WEEE to hold waste carriers license and for the drivers to have special training in the transportation of hazardous waste.

There will be standards set on the storage requirements, and a further need to store and transport goods without damaging them, so that maximum reuse can be achieved.


Providing of information

'The UK is to encourage consumers to participate in separate collection of WEEE and facilitate reuse and recovery' at an estimated cost of £18 million per year (DTI figures). The government has suggested that retailers would be expected to provide (perhaps not pay for - we don't know) this kind of information, including:

  • The benefits of disposing of WEEE separately
  • What collection schemes are available
  • Consumers' role in the management of WEEE
  • Potential hazardous to the environment and human health from WEEE

This could be in the form of leaflets at the pay point.

More:

WEEE Network mail@weeenetwork.com Information provided in this site is intended to be helpful, informative and accurate. However, we cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies.  
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