WEEE is Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. The European Union (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations, 2014 (which came into effect on 29th March 2014. These Regulations replaced the European Communities (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations, 2011 (S.I. No. 355 of 2011).
The purpose of the Regulations is to contribute to sustainable production and consumption by the prevention of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and, in addition, by the re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery of such wastes so as to reduce the disposal of waste. They also seek to improve the environmental performance of all operators involved in the life cycle of EEE. The Regulations also aim to facilitate, in particular, the achievement of the targets for the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment in an environmentally sound manner (established by Directive 2012/19/EU on WEEE
The WEEE Regulations apply to:
- large and small household appliances
- IT and telecommunications equipment
- consumer equipment
- lighting equipment
- electrical and electronic tools, toys, leisure and sports equipment
- medical devices
- monitoring and control instruments and automatic dispensers
How does it work?
When you purchase a new WEEE item the retailer is required to take old or broken WEEE & Batteries from you and dispose of them free of charge.
Take back is on a one-for-one basis only and the WEEE must be of a similar type or have performed the same function as the new item purchased.
Disposing of WEEE at Recycling Centres:
Each Local Authority must accept household WEEE & Batteries free of charge at its Civic Amenity facilities from members of the public.
Local authorities can no longer charge gate fees for WEEE & Batteries