Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations

These regulations cover all Electrical and Electronic Equipment (referred to as EEE), e.g. ranging from televisions to power tools and hair dryers to cookers. All producers, retailers and consumers of EEE are affected by these regulations.

The regulations are designed to promote the recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment. They will facilitate in particular the achievement of the targets for the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment in an environmentally sound manner. All producers, retailers and consumers of EEE are affected by these regulations.

Requirements

WEEE and the Retailer

The regulations provide for the costs of WEEE recycling to be displayed for all items, and these costs are known as Environmental Management Costs (EMCs).

All retailers of WEEE must ensure that the EMCs are clearly displayed, separate to the retail price of the product.

Retailers are also obliged to take back household WEEE from customers on a one-for-one basis with the sale of a new like product (e.g. fridge for fridge). The WEEE should be returned to the approved collection facility for recycling, ensuring that all WEEE is clean on delivery.

Retailer Registration

Retailers must continue to register their premises. This can be done free-of-charge on a once-off basis with ERP (European Recycling Platform) Ireland or WEEE Ireland, depending on where the premises is located (all premises in Louth should register with ERP www.erp-recycling.ie). Retailers also have the option of annual registration with their Local Authority for a fee of €200 per annum. A certificate of Retailer Registration must be displayed by all retailers.