WEEE take-back

Your take-back requirements in three steps:

1. Offer a like-for-like WEEE take-back solution

You must offer to take back of the same type as the item your customers buy from you, regardless of the brand of item and whether the new purchase is completed in-store, online or by mail order.

You must:

• offer the in-store service for free - but you can charge to cover transport costs if you’re collecting items from customers’ homes.
• give customers at least 28 days to bring back their waste item after purchase.
• take back all types of electrical and electronic equipment that you sell - you can choose to extend your service to cover all kinds of electrical and electronic waste.

2. For stores with >400m² sales area, offer take-back of all ‘very small WEEE’

If your electrical and electronic equipment sales area is greater than 400 square metres including aisle, display and shelf space, you must take back all items of ‘very small WEEE’ in store. ‘Very small WEEE’ are items of waste electrical and electronic equipment that are less than 25cm on their longest side.

You must provide this service to everyone for free, regardless of whether they’ve bought anything from your store.

3. Tell your customers which service you provide

 You must provide free written information to your customers on:

• which take back service you provide, including collection on delivery
• how they can reuse and recycle electrical and electronic equipment
• why this waste needs to be separated from other waste
• the damaging environmental effects of not recycling electrical and electronic equipment
• the meaning of the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol

If this all sounds daunting, we are here to help.