WEEE recycling – A guide for businesses

As a business, it’s important to be aware of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling directive and how it affects your operations. WEEE is the fastest growing waste stream globally and the WEEE directive was created in order to help reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste.

In article, we will discuss what WEEE is, how to categorise WEEE items, and safe disposal methods for WEEE. We will also look at some FAQs about WEEE recycling and provide advice on how to choose a reputable recycling company.

What is WEEE?
WEEE is any type of electrical or electronic equipment that has reached the end of its life. This can include items such as computers, printers, TVs, microwaves, and more. WEEE waste is a growing problem because it contains harmful substances that can pollute the environment if not disposed of properly.

Each year, as much as 2 million tonnes of WEEE items end up in landfill when they could easily be recycled. With many harmful materials in their assembly, electronic devices in landfill cause significant environmental damage. They:

• Contaminate surrounding areas
• Kill living species
• Take up a lot more space than most other landfill waste

The WEEE directive was put in place to reduce the environmental impact of WEEE waste. The directive requires businesses to recycle WEEE waste in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. The original WEEE regulations came into force in 2006 and were updated in 2013 and became law in 2014. The new Regulations transpose the main provisions of Directive 2012/19/EU on WEEE which recasts the previous Directive 2002/96/EC.

What should be recycled under WEEE?

There are a number of different types of electronic items that fall under the WEEE umbrella. Most household appliances fall under this, as well as toys, medical devices, consumer equipment and monitoring/control equipment.

When it comes to the majority of businesses, there are a few key items that are regularly disposed of or replaced. The most popular electrical equipment in businesses being the following:

• Desktop computers and monitors
• Laptops
• Computer keyboards and mice
• Telephones (landline phones and video conferencing equipment)
• Mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.)
• Printers, scanners and photocopiers
• WiFi routers

Recycling WEEE items?

The main recyclable materials found in electronic devices are plastics, metals, and glass. These materials can be recycled and reused to create new electronic devices and products. The items can be categorised in three ways.

1. Reused: This includes equipment that still works and can be used by someone else. For example, a computer that has been wiped of all data and given to a charity.
2. Repaired: This includes equipment that is broken but can be fixed. For example, a printer with a faulty component that can be replaced.
3. Recycled: This includes equipment that is no longer working and cannot be repaired. The valuable materials in the equipment will be extracted and recycled. Common metals found in electronic devices include gold, silver and copper. In fact the Royal Mint is taking gold from old electronics and turning them into coins.

The advantage of recycling old items is that a business can recoup some of the costs associated with buying new equipment. WEEE recycling also helps to reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste.

Dangers of not recycling WEEE properly

There are two dangers of not recycling WEEE properly:

1. Environmental impact: WEEE contains many hazardous materials, such as lead and mercury, that can contaminate soil and water if not disposed of properly. WEEE also takes up valuable resources that could be used to produce new products, instead of being recycled.
2. Data destruction: For a business this is one of the most important aspects when it comes time to recycle old electronic devices. WEEE often contains sensitive data, such as customer information and financial records. If this data falls into the wrong hands, it could be used for identity theft or fraud. That is why making sure a company destroys your data properly is essential.

How to choose a WEEE recycling company

When choosing a WEEE recycling company, it is important to do your research. Make sure the company is certified and accredited, and that they follow all the proper protocols for WEEE disposal. Ask about their data destruction methods to ensure your sensitive data will be destroyed properly. Make sure they supply you with a certificate of destruction for your records.

FAQs