Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations

Why is this so important?

According to Waste Online, some 3 million fridge/ freezer units are disposed of and some 2 million working Pentium computers end up in landfill each year in the UK alone. This is just the tip of the iceberg...

What the regulations mean for you

From the 1st July 2007 waste authorities must separate out electrical waste from household waste to stop them going into landfill. WEEE items include computers, white goods and other electrical items, including anything powered by batteries, (e.g. digital watches and children's toys) as well as the mains electrical supply. You can take WEEE items to the local waste site or ask the Council to do this for you - but they may charge you for this service.

Find out more on the Environment Agency website or download the Environment Agency's very useful WEEE Householder Information PDF.

For more detailed information, plus a directory of WEE Recycling and Refurbishment companies, contact the Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling.

Light bulbs

Generally, incandescent light bulbs are not included in the WEEE regulations, are not recycled by local authorities and should be safely wrapped and disposed of in your general household waste. Read more in the Which Light Bulb Report - February 2007.

Fluorescent light tubes do and energy saving bulbs may contain toxic materials and should be recycled at the Hastings household waste site, Bexhill Road.

Batteries

Car batteries and household batteries can be recycled at the Hastings household waste site at Bexhill Road.