The WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive first came into being in 2006, and the current set of regulations were last amended and applied in January 2014. The law applies to manufacturers, vendors, distributors, resellers and firms like Restore Technology, because we are an accredited processor of WEEE.
Broadly speaking, the idea of the directive is to reduce and regulate the amount of WEEE incinerated or sent to landfill. In an era when the churn of computers, laptops, telephones, copiers, digital devices and the current scourge, ‘disposable’ vapes powered by lithium-ion batteries, is never-ending, it’s essential that all producers, retailers and users abide more closely by the rules.
The UK, in particular, rides high in the e-waste charts. In a report generated looking at 2020 figures, we were sitting at number 2, generating 23.9kg of e-waste per capita a year!* Will that number have gone up by now? Experts four years ago certainly thought so…
Why is WEEE disposal so important?
There are two key reasons.
-> Firstly, many electrical and electronic pieces of equipment contain toxic substances, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, that should under no circumstances be thrown into a regular landfill where they can leach into the soil and cause lasting harm to health and environment.
-> Secondly, recycling. Materials such as plastic, glass and the precious metals all commonly used in the manufacture of electronic equipment should be regarded as resources, not waste. All are recoverable and, after processing, re-usable many times over – saving virgin resource, energy, water, fuel, and so on.
The bottom line is that neither recyclable materials nor poisons should go into landfill. They should be carefully processed, either to extract and recycle, or for careful disposal in the appropriate way.
Who should be interested?
Wherever the WEEE comes from, whether they’re items returned/swapped/disposed of with the retailer; IT estate management assets; local authorities or waste disposal firms, it is the law so we should all be interested.
For those who have a stakeholder commitment to sustainability – and who doesn’t? – compliant WEEE disposal hits the bullseye as it enables your business to become part of the circular economy and is the ethical thing to do, for planet and people.
WEEE disposal near you: how Restore Technology can help
In 2021 we prevented 1 million assets from entering the waste stream with the support of our customers. Our accredited disposition services mean we practise minimising e-waste as a core part of our business. We can help you with compliant disposal and recycling, meeting all the criteria for compliant WEEE disposal and sustainability in one go.
There are several ways for your WEEE assets to be re-routed out of landfill.
–> Recycling
We strive to refurbish e-waste so that it can go round one more time. But if it has no residual value, we will send all items to our recycling depot for the following…
–> Disassembly
We will send anything not suitable for re-use to our specialist Bristol facility, which works hard to achieve and maintain all the relevant security and processing accreditations required to break items down so that components can be recycled.
–> Segregation
We ensure all components are separated into their specific waste streams. Each must be recycled in the correct way to reclaim materials without harming the environment.
–> Reclamation
We send components to our carefully vetted UK recycling partners, who will reclaim materials such as glass and plastics, and including precious metals like copper, gold, and titanium.
An environmental report after each transaction with us seals the deal. As well as assuring you that the correct processes have been used, and that security has remained unbroken throughout, the report highlights how you have helped reduce your environmental impact by using Restore Technology: energy, water, CO2 emissions, quantities of materials re-used, and so on.
Peace of mind
Our processes for WEEE disposal are fully compliant with all security, legal and environmental standards, leaving you to sit back and relax, knowing that you’ve done the right thing. Now that’s important!
* data from the Global E-waste Monitor 2020
If you’d like to hear more about how Restore Technology uses data erasure to secure your peace of mind, give one of our persuasive customer services team a call.
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