WEEE regulations

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is regulated by the UK government to reduce the amount of unwanted electricals that are incinerated or sent to landfill sites.

Black line graphic of a wheelie bin, side view, with a big cross through it.

What are WEEE regulations?

The WEEE Regulations, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations, are a set of rules designed to reduce the environmental impact of electrical and electronic waste. They place obligations on producers, distributors, and retailers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to manage WEEE responsibly, promoting reuse, recycling, and recovery of materials. The Government set annual targets for electrical producers based on how many electricals they put onto the market, and if they miss these targets they can instead pay a ‘compliance fee’ into the WEEE Fund. The fund is managed by Material Focusand used to increase reuse and recycling of electricals in the UK.

The crossed-out wheelie bin is the WEEE symbol. It indicates that electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) should not be disposed of with regular household waste – and that it should be recycled separately through designated collection points. 

All electricals come under WEEE regulations

All electricals must be recycled under the WEEE Regulations – anything with a plug, battery or cable. WEEE waste includes:

  • Large household appliances like white goods.
  • Small household appliances like kettles, electric toothbrushes.
  • Telecoms, IT and smart devices like phones, smart watches.
  • Audio and audiovisual equipment like TVs, remotes.
  • Lighting equipment.
  • Electrical and electronic power tools like drills, garden tools.
  • Toys, leisure and sports equipment including gaming consoles.
  • Medical devices.
  • Monitoring and control instruments like smoke detectors.
  • Automatic dispensers like cash and drinks machines.
collection of various kitchen appliances on a table top in a brightly lit room

Proof of recycling electricals

Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities are licensed to treat electrical waste on behalf of producers. Once they have recycled the electricals, they create an ‘evidence note’ specifying the amount and type of electrical waste recycled, and whether it’s reused, recycled or exported. Producers then use this to demonstrate they have met their commitments to fund the recycling of electricals that they produced.

Download a sample evidence note