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Any organisation in the UK that has disposed of or recycled electronic waste will have come across the WEEE directive. This piece of legislation was introduced by the Environment Agency (EA) to help prevent too many old devices going straight to landfill. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is something most companies have to deal with nowadays, thanks to the introduction of technology such as computers, photocopiers, fax machines and printers that are used in offices up and down the country on a daily basis. Of course, there comes a time when you need to upgrade your devices to keep pace with the rest of your industry and this is when you must start thinking about your WEEE responsibilities and how you can ensure you adhere to all EA legislation. It is not necessary for your firm to take control of the entire e-waste recycling process, as there are numerous organisations specialising in this sector that take care of the removal and disposal of your devices, as well as removing parts for recycling and ensuring any sensitive information is completely wiped - keeping you on the right side of the law regarding data protection. Certain pieces of equipment, like computer monitors and televisions, will often be classified as hazardous waste due to some components that can be present in such products, including fluorescent tubes, cathode ray tubes and mercury switches. Once these parts have been removed, however, the remainder of the device will be reclassified as standard e-waste. This definitely is not a job most organisations would be comfortable undertaking by themselves, which is where a recycling partner can be of use and ensure every step of the process is in line with the relevant regulations. These specialist companies will always provide a full recycling report, as well as waste transfer notes and data security certificates, ensuring any business that uses their service can keep track of exactly where, when and how its e-waste has been disposed of. EEE is not always classed as waste when you decide to replace it, though, and this will depend on whether the devices in question are still in working order or are not beyond economical repair. For example, a company can donate its old monitors to charity or sell them on without having to class them as waste. Pieces of equipment that need to be fixed can also be disposed of in this way, again without having to classify them as WEEE. Other devices that do fall into the WEEE bracket should be responsibly recycled, with as many of their working components reused as possible. The rest of the product can then be disposed of according to EA legislation - something a dedicated e-waste recycling firm will be completely familiar with. Although a business is not directly responsible for the process if it outsources this to a specialist recycling company, it does need to ensure all the procedures in place at its chosen partner are above board. Firms should expect to receive full reports about the disposal of any e-waste, while it pays to keep an eye on any changes to current legislation and to check the recycler being used is aware of these and alters its practices accordingly. Remember, the WEEE directive deals solely with the disposal and recycling of electronic goods - it does not cover the removal of sensitive information from any devices being replaced. This is regulated by the Data Protection Act and there can be hefty penalties for organisations that fail to comply with this legislation. If you need some assistance when it comes to recycling your company's electronic waste and adhering to all EA legislation, ShP can help. We offer a comprehensive service that recycles and disposes of e-waste responsibly, ensuring all the legal requirements are met.
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