SFX is fully licensed to collect and refurbish electronic recycling (WEEE) in Cardiff

Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

Overview

The amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (widely known as WEEE or e-waste) generated every year in the UK is increasing rapidly. It is now one of the fastest-growing waste streams.

EU and UK rules on WEEE aim to contribute to sustainable production and consumption. They address environmental and other issues caused by the growing number of discarded electronics.

Background

Waste from electrical and electronic equipment includes a large range of devices such as computers, fridges and mobile phones at the end of their life. SFX primarily deals with electronic waste from computers, laptops and related devices.

Electrical waste contains a complex mixture of materials, some of which are hazardous. These can cause major environmental and health problems if the discarded devices are not managed properly. In addition, modern electronics contain rare and expensive resources, which can be recycled and reused if the waste is effectively managed. SFX harvests working components from waste equipment and offer it back into the repairs market. In turn, this further reduces waste.

Improving the collection, treatment and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) at the end of their life can

• improve sustainable production and consumption

• increase resource efficiency

• contribute to the circular economy

The EU has introduced the WEEE Directive

Objectives

The directive aims to contribute to sustainable production and consumption by

• preventing the creation of WEEE as a first priority

• contributing to the efficient use of resources and the retrieval of secondary raw materials through re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery

• improving the environmental performance of everyone involved in the life cycle of EEE

In order to achieve these objectives, the Directive

• requires the separate collection and proper treatment of WEEE and sets targets for their collection as well as for their recovery and recycling

• helps European countries fight illegal waste exports more effectively by making it harder for exporters to disguise illegal shipments of WEEE

• reduces the administrative burden by calling for the harmonisation of national EEE registers and of the reporting format

In Wales, the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) regulations are enforced by the Welsh Government, and they are designed to ensure that manufacturers, importers and distributors of electronic equipment are responsible for financing the collection, treatment, and recovery or disposal of electronic equipment at the end of their life. The regulations are in place to ensure that electronic waste is properly managed, and to reduce the amount of electronic waste going to landfills.

Companies that operate in Wales and collect, treat, or recover WEEE are required to obtain a permit or licence from the Welsh Government. These permits or licences are designed to ensure that companies are properly equipped and trained to safely and responsibly handle electronic waste, and that they are in compliance with regulations.

Some of the requirements that companies need to meet in order to obtain a permit or licence include:

• Having adequate facilities and equipment for the storage, treatment and recovery of WEEE

• Having a plan for the safe and responsible handling of WEEE

• Having trained personnel to handle and process WEEE

• Complying with regulations for the transport and disposal of WEEE

The Welsh Government also operates a compliance scheme, which allows companies to register with a scheme and pay a fee to cover the costs of collection, treatment, and disposal of WEEE.

In summary, the WEEE regulations in Wales require companies that handle electronic waste to have a permit or licence and comply with certain regulations. These regulations are in place to ensure that electronic waste is properly managed and to reduce the amount of electronic waste going to landfills. Companies are also required to comply with regulations for the transport and disposal of electronic waste, and the Welsh Government operates a compliance scheme to cover the costs of collection, treatment, and disposal. SFX is complaint with these regulations and has been licensed by Natural Rescources Wales. With a T11 permit.

SFX also holds a waste carriers license. In the context of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) regulations in Wales, a waste carriers license is a type of permit issued by the Welsh Government’s Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to companies that handle and transport WEEE.

The waste carriers permit is specific for the transportation of WEEE, and it covers the movement of WEEE from the point of generation, such as a household or business, to a treatment facility or another point of storage. The waste carriers license is intended to ensure that the transportation of WEEE is carried out in a safe and responsible manner, and that the waste is properly tracked and documented.

Companies that transport WEEE within Wales are required to have a waste carriers license, and they must comply with the regulations and conditions set out in the permit. These regulations cover areas such as the proper packaging and labeling of WEEE, the use of suitable vehicles for transportation, and the training of personnel. The waste carriers permit is an important part of the WEEE regulations in Wales, as it helps to ensure that the transportation of electronic waste is carried out safely and responsibly and that the waste is properly tracked and documented.