Consultation on reforms to increase levels of WEEE reuse and recycling

Views sought on driving towards a more circular economy through increased collection and proper treatment of WEEE products.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), on behalf of all four devolved administrations, has launched a consulation on reforming the producer responsibility system for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

The proposals set out ways to increase WEEE collection levels and how to ensure producers and distributors, including online sellers, can all play their part. Views are also sought on future WEEE system governance arrangements as well as alternative ways of measuring how the system performs.

The consultation document sets out detailed proposals for reforms relating to the provision of collection infrastructure for household WEEE financed by producers of electrical and electronic equipment. It sets out detailed proposals for reforms to the take-back obligations that currently apply to distributors, ie retailers and online sellers. Finally, it sets out proposals to place new obligations on online marketplaces and on ensuring producers of vapes properly finance recycling costs when they become waste.

Defra has also published a call for evidence which seeks views on longer term ways of ensuring the WEEE system supports the circular economy, including how WEEE is treated at the end of its life.

Find out more about the consultation and how to respond.

First published 2 January 2024