WEEE Recycling Guide

• What does WEEE stand for?
• How to dispose of electronic waste
• What e-waste can be recycled?
• How do I dispose of computers and laptops?
• Are batteries considered WEEE?

Disposal of electronic waste must be done carefully. E-waste is too dangerous to send to landfill as it contains toxic materials – such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. Such chemicals leak into the soil when disposed of in landfills, harming ecosystems and potentially polluting water supplies. Instead, e-waste disposal is taken care of in a specialised way.

To dispose of electronics, you must comply with WEEE regulations and arrange collection by a licensed carrier to avoid any electrical waste going to landfill. An easy way to do this is with Business Waste – as we provide you with free bins or containers to fill with your old electronic and electrical waste items.

Place only your electronic waste in these bins, whether appliances, lighting, IT equipment or anything else. There’s no need to break them down and it doesn’t matter if they’re broken or damaged, as they’re separated into their component parts later. Just ensure no other types of waste are in the bin, as this could cause contamination.

Arrange collection by a licensed carrier who transports it to an Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF), where as much as possible is recycled. This varies depending on the type of electrical items, but generally, e-waste is dismantled and separated into different materials that are recycled with their specific waste streams – such as metals, glass, and plastic.

Batteries are everywhere and any item that uses one is a type of WEEE. However, you should use separate bins to store and recycle batteries. Batteries are smaller than most other e-waste items and storing them together makes the recycling process more efficient.

We can provide special battery bins to get rid of used batteries – ideal if your company uses lots of electrical and electronic devices. All single-use batteries contain various recyclable materials, such as AAA and AA batteries, button batteries (for a watch), mobile phone batteries, laptops, and power tool batteries.

Where you can recycle electronics depends on whether you’re getting rid of items as a business or household. Electronic recycling for businesses must be done by using licensed waste carriers to remove any WEEE from your premises. Store it in separate bins or containers and book a collection at a suitable time and date.

As a consumer, where to recycle electronics depends on the items and your location. Many electrical shops run take-back schemes, and you may be able to return old electricals for recycling. Otherwise, check if your local household waste recycling centre (HWRC) accepts electricals for recycling or if your council offers a collection service.

For small electrical recycling from households, many local councils have specific banks in locations across their areas. Often these are in council and supermarket car parks, as well as other locations. They’re used for recycling small electricals such as kettles, toasters, laptops, and mobile phones from consumers. Check your local council website for the latest information.

Electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. If electronic waste is disposed of irresponsibly or dumped in landfill the hazardous and toxic substances items contain – like lead and mercury – can leach into soil and water. This adds to pollution, which negatively affects the surrounding environment, wildlife, and health of those living and working nearby.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) claims that people trying to recover precious metals from e-waste in landfill could be exposed to a thousand harmful substances. This can lead to all sorts of health complications. Recycling and proper disposal of electronic waste prevents it from ending up in landfill and potentially harming humans and the environment.