WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. It includes almost any item with a plug or battery that is no longer wanted. UK WEEE Regulations 2013 define 10 categories, such as household appliances, IT equipment, lighting, and medical devices.

What solutions can businesses adopt to reduce WEEE waste?

Solutions include innovation with sustainable materials, donation programmes, trade-in schemes, offering cash incentives, and educating staff and customers on recycling practices.

17 August 2024 | Waste management

How to dispose of WEEE waste: A complete guide for businesses

Q: How much WEEE waste is generated in the UK?

UK households dispose of around 2 million tonnes of WEEE every year, according to UK Parliament research. Most comes from large household appliances, but difficult-to-recycle items also contribute significantly.

Q: How is WEEE waste treated?

WEEE waste is usually treated through disassembly or shredding. Disassembly separates materials for recycling, while shredding breaks items into smaller fractions for sorting. DEFRA provides best practice guidance on WEEE treatment.

Q: What are the risks of poor WEEE disposal?

Fly-tipping of WEEE is a major issue, costing councils £58 million in England in 2016/17. Hazardous WEEE dumped illegally is dangerous to the environment and is a criminal offence.

Q: Which brands are leading on WEEE waste reduction?

Apple uses 100% recycled aluminium in some products and runs trade-in schemes. HP pledges to recycle 1.2 million tonnes of hardware and supplies by 2025. John Lewis partners with Recycle Now to direct customers to WEEE recycling points.

Q: Why should businesses act on WEEE waste?

Businesses should act to reduce environmental harm, cut costs by reusing materials, comply with WEEE regulations, and strengthen brand reputation through sustainability leadership.

Electronic waste — also known as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) — is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the UK and globally. With over 2 million tonnes of WEEE discarded each year in the UK alone, businesses and households face increasing pressure to manage electronic products responsibly. This blog explains what WEEE waste is, how it should be disposed of, the risks of poor handling, and which leading brands are setting positive examples. You’ll also find practical solutions your business can adopt to reduce WEEE waste and improve recycling rates.

What is WEEE waste?

WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. It covers almost any item with a plug or battery that is no longer wanted.

The UK WEEE Regulations 2013 (effective from 2014) define 10 categories:

Large household appliances
Small household appliances
IT & telecommunications equipment
Consumer equipment
Lighting equipment
Electrical and electronic tools
Toys, leisure and sports equipment
Medical devices
Monitoring and control equipment
Automatic dispensers

Each category often contains hazardous materials, meaning specialist recycling and disposal is essential.

How much WEEE waste is generated in the UK?

Every year, UK households dispose of around 2 million tonnes of WEEE, according to UK Parliament research. Most of this comes from large household appliances, but difficult-to-recycle items also contribute heavily.

How is WEEE waste treated?

There are two main processes:

Disassembly – Manual or automated dismantling of items to separate materials for recycling.
Shredding – Technology that breaks items into smaller fractions for further sorting.

The UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published best practice guidance to standardise WEEE treatment.

What are the risks of poor WEEE disposal?

The biggest risk is fly-tipping, which remains a costly issue.

In 2016/17, councils in England managed over one million fly-tipping cases, costing taxpayers around £58 million.
Dumping hazardous WEEE is a criminal offence and dangerous to the environment.

Which brands are leading on WEEE waste reduction?

Apple: Uses 100% recycled aluminium in MacBook Air and Mac Mini enclosures, as highlighted in Apple’s Environmental Progress Report. Apple also offers trade-in schemes to recover old devices.
HP: Pledges to recycle 1.2 million tonnes of hardware and printer supplies by 2025 (HP Sustainable Impact Report).
John Lewis: Partners with Recycle Now to direct customers to WEEE recycling points, funding sites across the UK.

What solutions can brands adopt to reduce WEEE waste?

Innovation

Design products using sustainable and recyclable materials that can re-enter the production cycle.

Donation

Partner with charities and offer donation points in stores to keep items in circulation.

Trade-in schemes

Encourage customers to exchange old devices for discounts on new products.

Cash exchange

Offer financial incentives for consumers to hand in old electronics responsibly.

Education

Train staff on sustainable practices so they can educate customers. This creates a ripple effect that spreads awareness and improves recycling behaviour.

Why should businesses act on WEEE waste?

Reduces environmental harm from hazardous materials
Cuts costs by reusing valuable materials
Meets compliance obligations under UK WEEE Regulations
Strengthens brand reputation through sustainability leadership

Final takeaway

Brands can and should do more to reduce WEEE waste. By adopting innovation, trade-in schemes, partnerships, and education, businesses can play a critical role in tackling this growing challenge.

If your business needs help developing a sustainable WEEE strategy, find out how our WEEE waste recycling can help.