Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

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Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), also known as E-waste, is end of life Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE), i.e. items that require electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to operate. The EA reported[1] that 1.9 million tonnes of EEE was placed on the market in the UK in 2021, with 498,333 tonnes of WEEE collected.

WEEE - Picture from BioEnergy Consult, All Rights Reserved
WEEE - Picture from BioEnergy Consult, All Rights Reserved


Overview

WEEE was first introduced by the WEEE Directive in 2002 to address the environmental impacts of unwanted electrical and electronic equipment at end-of-life and disposal. WEEE is classed as either household (primarily EWC 20 01 35 and 20 01 36) or non-household (EWC 16 02 09* to 16). The objective of the Directive and its transposed legislation, the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2007, as amended is to promote recycling and minimise waste by putting the emphasis for end-of-life treatment and recovery on the original producers or distributors of the items. In the 2019-21 House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Report[2] it identifies the UK as the second highest generator of E-waste per person in the world, after Norway, at 23.9kg per person.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (as amended) is the current underpinning UK legislation [3]. In 2020 a parlimentary enquiry called for a number of changes to improve the recycling of WEEE including the reporting by value rather than weight[4].

The regulations identify 10 broad categories of WEEE, including:

  1. Large household appliances e.g. fridges, cookers, microwaves, washing machines and dishwashers
  2. Small household appliances e.g. vacuum cleaners, irons, toasters and clocks
  3. IT and telecommunications equipment – e.g. personal computers, copying equipment, telephones and pocket calculators
  4. Consumer equipment e.g. radios, televisions, hi-fi equipment, camcorders ad musical instruments
  5. Lighting equipment e.g. straight and compact fluorescent tubes and high intensity discharge lamps
  6. Electrical and electronic tools – e.g. drills, saws and sewing machines, electric lawnmowers
  7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment e.g. electric trains, games consoles and running machines
  8. Medical devices e.g. (non infected) dialysis machines, analysers, medical freezers and cardiology equipment
  9. Monitoring and control equipment e .g. smoke detectors, thermostats and heating regulators
  10. Automatic dispensers e.g. hot drinks dispensers and money dispensers[5].

Recycling of WEEE is a specialist part of the waste and recycling industry; it is a rapidly growing sub-sector due largely to the implementation of the original WEEE Directive[5]. ‌ WEEE generally contains a mixed variety of materials, potentially including hazardous ones (e.g. cadmium, arsenic or lead), making it problematic to manage and meaning the treatment methods for WEEE vary massively depending on the technology used and the relevant category[5]. It can include Persistent Organic Pollutants, or POPs, which require specific segregation and compliance with specific regulations[6].

The EA updated their public register of producers and approved exporters, authorised treatment facilities and producer compliance schemes in March 2022[7].The current national target for WEEE collection is 65% of the average of the previous three years placed on the market (or 85% of WEEE generated). For 2022 the target has been set at 511,377 tonnes[8].

Macro Tonnage

The most recent information published by DEFRA [9] is summarized in the pie chart below, with 592,905 tonnes of collected discarded equipment waste identified in the UK in 2016 (WEEE being part of this category and the broader tonnage summarized in UK Waste Tonnage). The most recent data from the EA[1] indicated that 1.6 million tonnes of Household Electronic and Electrical Equipment and 0.3 million tonnes of Non-Household Electronic and Electrical Equipment were placed on the market in 2021, of which 498,333 tonnes (as shown in the tables below an increase on 446,419 tonnes in 2020) was collected:

Discarded Equipment
Data Table
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AFF) 165
Mining and Quarrying (MQ) 502
Industrial (Ind) 29,774
Construction (Con) 3,937
Commercial (Com) 201,877
Household (HH) 356,650

January 2020 to December 2020

The macro numbers above do not breakdown the component elements of WEEE, but the EA data for January to December 2020 provides a more detailed breakdown for Household and Non-household WEEE[1].

Category Name Household WEEE collected from a DCF[10](tonnes) Household WEEE returned under regulation 43[11] (tonnes) Household WEEE returned under regulation 50 [12](tonnes) Total separately collected Household WEEE[13](tonnes) Total Non-household WEEE (tonnes) Total WEEE (tonnes)
1 Large Household Appliances 69,881 93,026 22,104 186,368 481 186,849
2 Small Household Appliances 24,758 672 2,441 27,938 66 28,004
3 IT and Telcomms Equipment 22,180 633 9,087 31,974 647 32,621
4 Consumer Equipment 15,509 157 3,862 19,557 14 19,571
5 Lighting Equipment 3,847 100 532 4,484 2,754 7,238
6 Electrical and Electronic Tools 18,873 200 1,031 20,147 139 20,286
7 Toys Leisure and Sports 3,684 31 247 3,968 2 3,970
8 Medical Devices 4 0 10 13 223 236
9 Monitoring and Control Instruments 738 15 211 969 105 1,074
10 Automatic Dispensers 0 0 0 0 121 121
11 Display Equipment 31,709 1,315 2,934 36,029 10 36,039
12 Cooling Appliances Containing Refrigerants 68,796 46,442 8,946 125,005 1,723 126,728
13 Gas Discharge Lamps and LED Light Sources 704 171 2,570 3,445 1 3,446
14 Photovoltaic Panels 170 23 42 236 0 236
Total 260,850 142,785 54,016 460,134 6,286 466,419

January 2021 to December 2021

The macro numbers above do not breakdown the component elements of WEEE, but the EA data for January to December 2021 provides a more detailed breakdown for Household and Non-household WEEE[1].

Category Name Household WEEE collected from a DCF[14](tonnes) Household WEEE returned under regulation 43[15] (tonnes) Household WEEE returned under regulation 50 [16](tonnes) Total separately collected Household WEEE[17](tonnes) Total Non-household WEEE (tonnes) Total WEEE (tonnes)
1 Large Household Appliances 71,730 94,329 14,987 182,646 516 183,162
2 Small Household Appliances 26,729 674 3,902 31,386 23 31,409
3 IT and Telcomms Equipment 23,835 715 12,097 36,681 754 37,435
4 Consumer Equipment 16,404 181 4,266 20,917 4 20,921
5 Lighting Equipment 4,407 117 723 5,253 2,581 7,834
6 Electrical and Electronic Tools 20,813 244 1,658 22,741 185 22,926
7 Toys Leisure and Sports 4,113 36 388 4,542 1 4,543
8 Medical Devices 0 0 10 11 235 246
9 Monitoring and Control Instruments 837 14 251 1,105 89 1,194
10 Automatic Dispensers 0 0 0 0 128 128
11 Display Equipment 33,081 1,514 4,995 39,707 7 39,714
12 Cooling Appliances Containing Refrigerants 79,952 48,678 12,569 141,947 2,595 144,542
13 Gas Discharge Lamps and LED Light Sources 898 242 2,884 4,024 1 4,025
14 Photovoltaic Panels 197 3 54 254 0 254
Total 282,997 146,748 58,784 491,213 7,118 498,333

January 2022 to December 2022

The macro numbers above do not breakdown the component elements of WEEE, but the EA data for January to December 2022 provides a more detailed breakdown for Household and Non-household WEEE[1].

Category Name Household WEEE collected from a DCF[18](tonnes) Household WEEE returned under regulation 43[19] (tonnes) Household WEEE returned under regulation 50 [20](tonnes) Total separately collected Household WEEE[21](tonnes) Total Non-household WEEE (tonnes) Total WEEE (tonnes)
1 Large Household Appliances 62,722 86,132 14,104 164,250 580 164,820
2 Small Household Appliances 26,589 848 5,263 32,759 8 32,767
3 IT and Telcomms Equipment 23,652 810 12,605 37,119 757 37,875
4 Consumer Equipment 16,442 254 3,738 20,450 7 20,457
5 Lighting Equipment 4,431 106 596 5,133 2,657 7,790
6 Electrical and Electronic Tools 20,902 280 1,770 22,953 118 23,071
7 Toys Leisure and Sports 4,148 68 403 4,621 1 4,622
8 Medical Devices 0 1 10 11 198 208
9 Monitoring and Control Instruments 844 14 220 1,079 101 1,180
10 Automatic Dispensers 0 0 1 7 121 127
11 Display Equipment 32,693 1,980 5,528 40,428 21 40,449
12 Cooling Appliances Containing Refrigerants 77,526 42,135 13,464 134,274 3,069 137,343
13 Gas Discharge Lamps and LED Light Sources 945 232 2,874 4,051 1 4,051
14 Photovoltaic Panels 195 10 178 382 0 382
Total 271,089 132,869 60,754 467,517 7,637 475,153

The following WEEE headers in the page are a selection of the above list as captured by local authorities handling WEEE and as reported through WasteDataFlow.

January 2023 to December 2023

The macro numbers above do not breakdown the component elements of WEEE, but the EA data for January to December 2023 provides a more detailed breakdown for Household and Non-household WEEE[1].

Category Name Household WEEE collected from a DCF[22](tonnes) Household WEEE returned under regulation 43[23] (tonnes) Household WEEE returned under regulation 50 [24](tonnes) Total separately collected Household WEEE[25](tonnes) Total Non-household WEEE (tonnes) Total WEEE (tonnes)
1 Large Household Appliances 59,434 83,907 14,694 159,273 687 159,960
2 Small Household Appliances 28,386 724 4,475 33,577 59 33,635
3 IT and Telcomms Equipment 25,470 1,260 12,855 39,601 762 40,363
4 Consumer Equipment 17,602 321 3,000 20,945 8 20,952
5 Lighting Equipment 4,759 113 657 5,534 2,642 8,176
6 Electrical and Electronic Tools 22,442 367 2,521 25,318 185 25,503
7 Toys Leisure and Sports 4,465 87 462 5,035 1 5,036
8 Medical Devices 1 1 24 27 214 241
9 Monitoring and Control Instruments 912 23 201 1,138 74 1,212
10 Automatic Dispensers 0 0 3 3 76 79
11 Display Equipment 35,455 2,147 5,368 42,988 35 43,023
12 Cooling Appliances Containing Refrigerants 78,021 41,819 14,380 135,075 3,452 138,527
13 Gas Discharge Lamps and LED Light Sources 879 231 2,929 4,047 0 4,047
14 Photovoltaic Panels 202 29 229 460 0 460
Total 278,029 131,028 61,797 473,019 8,195 481,214

The following WEEE headers in the page are a selection of the above list as captured by local authorities handling WEEE and as reported through WasteDataFlow.

Fluorescent tubes and other light bulbs

Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 1000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.


Authority Stream Facility Operator Address Material Tonnes
East Sussex County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) M D J Light Bros ( Scrap Processors ) Ltd Greystone Quarry, Southerham, Lewes, East Sussex WEEE - Flourescent tubes and other light bulbs 6,150.33 Apr21 - Mar22
Norfolk County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Wiser Recycling Ltd St lves Resource Recovery Facility, Caxton Road, St lves, Cornwall WEEE - Flourescent tubes and other light bulbs 4,205.06 Apr21 - Mar22
Greater Manchester WDA (MBC) Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Recycling Lives Ltd D1/ D2 Longridge Road, Red Scar Bus Park, Preston, Lancashire WEEE - Flourescent tubes and other light bulbs 3,953.13 Apr21 - Mar22
Brighton and Hove Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) M D J Light Bros ( S P ) Ltd Unit 18 Cliffe Ind Est, South Street, Lewes, East Sussex WEEE - Flourescent tubes and other light bulbs 1,916.67 Apr21 - Mar22
South Lanarkshire Source segregated recyclate Exporter - recycling (qu19) Not Available Not Available WEEE - Flourescent tubes and other light bulbs 1,757.80 Jan21 - Dec21
Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Other/Exempt ERP Geordis Wastecare LimitedCornishway EastTaunton Somerset TA1 5LZ WEEE - Flourescent tubes and other light bulbs 1,298.82 Apr21 - Mar22
Ceredigion County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) L A S Waste Ltd L A S Waste, Tregaron Road, Lampeter, Ceredigion WEEE - Flourescent tubes and other light bulbs 1,276.11 Apr21 - Mar22
Bridgend CBC Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Bridgend County Borough Council Highways & Construction Services, Waterton Depot, Waterton Lane, Bridgend, Glamorgan WEEE - Flourescent tubes and other light bulbs 1,139.93 Apr21 - Mar22
Angus Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Not Available Not Available WEEE - Flourescent tubes and other light bulbs 1,089.12 Jan21 - Dec21
Falkirk Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Not Available Not Available WEEE - Flourescent tubes and other light bulbs 1,085.76 Jan21 - Dec21

Fridges & Freezers

Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 2000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.


Authority Stream Facility Operator Address Material Tonnes Reporting Period
Stockport MBC Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd Longley Lane, Sharston, Manchester WEEE - Fridges & Freezers 12,058.54 Apr21 - Mar22
West Sussex County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) M D J Light Bros ( Scrap Processors ) Ltd Greystone Quarry, Southerham, Lewes, East Sussex WEEE - Fridges & Freezers 9,245.76 Apr21 - Mar22
East Sussex County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) M D J Light Bros ( Scrap Processors ) Ltd Greystone Quarry, Southerham, Lewes, East Sussex WEEE - Fridges & Freezers 6,150.33 Apr21 - Mar22
Dorset Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) European Metal Recycling Limited 106 Scrubs Lane, Willesden, London WEEE - Fridges & Freezers 4,446.77 Apr21 - Mar22
Norfolk County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Wiser Recycling Ltd St lves Resource Recovery Facility, Caxton Road, St lves, Cornwall WEEE - Fridges & Freezers 4,205.06 Apr21 - Mar22
Kent County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Ling Metals Ltd Parham Rd, Riverdale Industrial Esta, Canterbury, Kent WEEE - Fridges & Freezers 3,285.40 Apr21 - Mar22
Devon County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Sims Group Uk Ltd 7 Christow Road, Marsh Barton Ind Est, Exeter, Devon WEEE - Fridges & Freezers 2,982.86 Apr21 - Mar22
Lincolnshire County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Sims Group U K Ltd South Dock, Westway Road, Newport Docks, Newport, Gwent WEEE - Fridges & Freezers 2,323.41 Apr21 - Mar22
Highland Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Not Available Not Available WEEE - Fridges & Freezers 2,191.05 Jan21 - Dec21
Warwickshire County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) European Metal Recycling Ltd Downing Street, Smethwick, West Midlands WEEE - Fridges & Freezers 2,020.25 Apr21 - Mar22

Large Domestic App

Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 5000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.


Authority Stream Facility Operator Address Material Tonnes Reporting Period
Merseyside WDA (MBC) Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) S Norton & Co Ltd Bankfield House, Bankfield Mill, Regent Road, Liverpool, Merseyside WEEE - Large Domestic App 17,486.76 Apr21 - Mar22
Devon County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Sims Group Uk Ltd 7 Christow Road, Marsh Barton Ind Est, Exeter, Devon WEEE - Large Domestic App 10,490.73 Apr21 - Mar22
Greater Manchester WDA (MBC) Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Recycling Lives Ltd D1/ D2 Longridge Road, Red Scar Bus Park, Preston, Lancashire WEEE - Large Domestic App 10,159.73 Apr21 - Mar22
West Sussex County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) M D J Light Bros ( Scrap Processors ) Ltd Greystone Quarry, Southerham, Lewes, East Sussex WEEE - Large Domestic App 9,245.76 Apr21 - Mar22
Lancashire County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Recycling Lives Ltd D1/ D2 Longridge Road, Red Scar Bus Park, Preston, Lancashire WEEE - Large Domestic App 8,725.31 Apr21 - Mar22
Somerset Waste Partnership Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) J C Thomas & Sons Ltd Thomas Way, Glastonbury, Somerset WEEE - Large Domestic App 7,336.43 Apr21 - Mar22
East Sussex County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) M D J Light Bros ( Scrap Processors ) Ltd Greystone Quarry, Southerham, Lewes, East Sussex WEEE - Large Domestic App 6,150.33 Apr21 - Mar22
Hertfordshire County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Nationwide Metal Recycling Ltd Bridge Works, Cadwell Lane, Hitchin, Hertfordshire WEEE - Large Domestic App 5,481.33 Apr21 - Mar22

Small Domestic App

Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 5000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.


Authority Stream Facility Operator Address Material Tonnes Reporting Period
Merseyside WDA (MBC) Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) S Norton & Co Ltd Bankfield House, Bankfield Mill, Regent Road, Liverpool, Merseyside WEEE - Small Domestic App 17,486.76 Apr21 - Mar22
Devon County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Sims Group Uk Ltd 7 Christow Road, Marsh Barton Ind Est, Exeter, Devon WEEE - Small Domestic App 10,490.73 Apr21 - Mar22
West Sussex County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) M D J Light Bros ( Scrap Processors ) Ltd Greystone Quarry, Southerham, Lewes, East Sussex WEEE - Small Domestic App 9,245.76 Apr21 - Mar22
Lancashire County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Recycling Lives Ltd D1/ D2 Longridge Road, Red Scar Bus Park, Preston, Lancashire WEEE - Small Domestic App 8,725.31 Apr21 - Mar22
Cornwall Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Henry And William Henry Orchard Burnt House Garage, Dobwalls, Liskeard, Cornwall WEEE - Small Domestic App 8,669.13 Apr21 - Mar22
Somerset Waste Partnership Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) J C Thomas & Sons Ltd Thomas Way, Glastonbury, Somerset WEEE - Small Domestic App 7,336.43 Apr21 - Mar22
Greater Manchester WDA (MBC) Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) S Norton & Co Ltd South Canada Dock, Branch 2 Regent Road, Liverpool, Merseyside WEEE - Small Domestic App 6,962.96 Apr21 - Mar22
East Sussex County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) M D J Light Bros ( Scrap Processors ) Ltd Greystone Quarry, Southerham, Lewes, East Sussex WEEE - Small Domestic App 6,150.33 Apr21 - Mar22

TVs & Monitors

Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 5000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.


Authority Stream Facility Operator Address Material Tonnes Reporting Period
Greater Manchester WDA (MBC) Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Recycling Lives Ltd D1/ D2 Longridge Road, Red Scar Bus Park, Preston, Lancashire WEEE - TVs & Monitors 10,159.73 Apr21 - Mar22
West Sussex County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) M D J Light Bros ( Scrap Processors ) Ltd Greystone Quarry, Southerham, Lewes, East Sussex WEEE - TVs & Monitors 9,245.76 Apr21 - Mar22
Lancashire County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) Recycling Lives Ltd D1/ D2 Longridge Road, Red Scar Bus Park, Preston, Lancashire WEEE - TVs & Monitors 8,725.31 Apr21 - Mar22
East Sussex County Council Source segregated recyclate Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) M D J Light Bros ( Scrap Processors ) Ltd Greystone Quarry, Southerham, Lewes, East Sussex WEEE - TVs & Monitors 6,150.33 Apr21 - Mar22

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/waste-electrical-and-electronic-equipment-weee-in-the-uk
  2. Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy
  3. Office for Product Safety and Standards, 2018. Regulations: waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). GOV.UK. [online] [Accessed 5 Dec. 2019]
  4. Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Health and Safety Executive, 2013. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment recycling (WEEE). Hse.gov.uk. [online] [Accessed 5 Dec. 2019].
  6. POPs regulations 2019 – UK SI.2019 No.1099 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/1099/made), implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1021
  7. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-electrical-and-electronic-equipment-weee-public-registers
  8. MRW Article accessed April 2022
  9. UK Statistics on Waste 2020
  10. This figure includes household WEEE from Designated Collection Facilities (DCFs) that has been collected by Producer Compliance Schemes, and household WEEE that DCFs have cleared themselves
  11. This figure includes household WEEE returned by distributors to Producer Compliance Schemes
  12. This figure includes household WEEE collected through a collection system a Producer Compliance Scheme operates itself
  13. This figure is the amount of WEEE Producer Compliance Schemes have reported as being delivered to Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities and Approved Exporters on their behalf
  14. This figure includes household WEEE from Designated Collection Facilities (DCFs) that has been collected by Producer Compliance Schemes, and household WEEE that DCFs have cleared themselves
  15. This figure includes household WEEE returned by distributors to Producer Compliance Schemes
  16. This figure includes household WEEE collected through a collection system a Producer Compliance Scheme operates itself
  17. This figure is the amount of WEEE Producer Compliance Schemes have reported as being delivered to Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities and Approved Exporters on their behalf
  18. This figure includes household WEEE from Designated Collection Facilities (DCFs) that has been collected by Producer Compliance Schemes, and household WEEE that DCFs have cleared themselves
  19. This figure includes household WEEE returned by distributors to Producer Compliance Schemes
  20. This figure includes household WEEE collected through a collection system a Producer Compliance Scheme operates itself
  21. This figure is the amount of WEEE Producer Compliance Schemes have reported as being delivered to Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities and Approved Exporters on their behalf
  22. This figure includes household WEEE from Designated Collection Facilities (DCFs) that has been collected by Producer Compliance Schemes, and household WEEE that DCFs have cleared themselves
  23. This figure includes household WEEE returned by distributors to Producer Compliance Schemes
  24. This figure includes household WEEE collected through a collection system a Producer Compliance Scheme operates itself
  25. This figure is the amount of WEEE Producer Compliance Schemes have reported as being delivered to Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities and Approved Exporters on their behalf