Frequently asked Questions
What is WEEE?
A. WEEE means waste electrical and electronic equipment, as defined under the WEEE Regulations 2006. See WEEE Page for more details. Some electrical waste is not covered by the WEEE legislation but Electrocycle’s recycling infrastructure can collect most of this old equipment too.
What is Waste?
A. ‘Waste’ is defined at any substance or object which the holder disposes of or is required to dispose of and is covered by a raft of legislation of which Electrocycle has extensive expertise. Organisations disposing of WEEE should be aware of their Duty of Care
What is hazardous WEEE?
A. Hazardous WEEE includes used crt (cathode ray tube) computer monitors, spent fluorescent tubes and old fridges and freezers. In these instances, the final user of the equipment is deemed a Producer of Hazardous Waste (not to be confused with an EEE Producer that generally manufacturers electrical equipment) and is responsible for registering their premises, the payment of Hazardous Waste Consignment Notes and for ensuring that the waste is correctly treated/disposed of.
Do I need a Hazardous Waste Premises Code?
A. If you produce more than 200kg of hazardous electro-waste per annum (equivalent to about 12 computer monitors) in England and Wales, then you are required to register your premises with the Environment Agency (EA) and obtain a premises code for your site.
If you do not have a HWPC, Electrocycle can register your site(s) on your behalf for as little as £25 per site. To request a collection and recycling quote please call us on 0845 680 0668 or use the online WEEE Collections Quote Page stating the number of sites requiring HWPCs
What is contaminated WEEE?
A. Any electrical or electronic equipment that has become contaminated as a result of the processing of any gaseous, liquid or solid materials should be de-contaminated prior to disposal for recycling. Electrocycle requires its de-contamination declaration form to be completed on these occasions, to confirm that the WEEE has been de-contaminated to a standard that ensures the health and safety of workers in the recycling industry.
How long can I store my own organisation’s waste on site for?
Companies are under a legal obligation to have any waste removed from their site within 12 months. Electrocycle can collect this WEEE from your site and arrange for it to be treated, recycling and recovered regionally.
Who is B2B Compliance?
B2B Compliance is the largest BtoB focused WEEE Compliance Scheme in the UK with over 450 Producer Members. More information on the scheme is available at www.b2bcompliance.org.uk
How does Electrocycle work with B2B Compliance?
Electrocycle is contracted to arrange the collection and recycling of WEEE on behalf of B2B Compliance and its Members. As EEE Producers, its Members are financially responsible for collecting their obligated WEEE from any organisation in the UK that they may sell to, which can include hospitals, offices, shops, industrial plants and so on. Electrocycle’s national infrastructure of collection vehicles are regularly passing many areas collecting WEEE to take back to a local Recycling Centre. Therefore, if you need electrical waste collecting, the marginal costs of collecting your waste as part of a milk-round make the costs very competitive and guarantee your waste will be treated at an Environment Agency Approved Authorised Treatment Facility.
What happens to WEEE Electrocycle collects?
Some organisations unknowingly organise their WEEE collections through unethical waste brokers and it is sent to third world regions where components are melted down in poor conditions by young children and are subjected to toxins.More information is widely accessible to read on the internet and The Guardian and Greenpeace are two good sources to start with.
Any waste that Electrocycle collects from your site goes to facilities that have been approved by the Environment Agency to store, handle, treat and/or recycle waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Electrocycle carries out regular reviews to ensure the legal and ethical recycling of your waste, and can provide organizations with recycling certificates. If you would like a recycling certificate for your items, just let us know when you submit a form on the online quote page