On the 31st March, the Environment Agency published the 2014 household WEEE obligation.
Since this time, it has been noted that the methodology used to calculate Schemes’ 2014 Category 13 (gas discharge lamps and LED light sources) obligation was inconsistent with the new 2013 WEEE Regulations.
As a result, the Environment Agency is re-issuing 2014 obligations to all Schemes with members that placed EEE on the market in Category 13.
The 2013 WEEE Regulations state that for reporting purposes gas discharge lamps and LED light sources represent a specific and separate category. The WEEE Guidance issued by BIS last month provides clarity of that definition.
In particular, the guidance states that household luminaires remain out of scope of the WEEE regulations during the transitional period (until we move to "open scope" in 2018). However an item of equipment that includes an integrated (i.e. Non removable) LED light source which, under the 2006 regulations would have fallen in scope of Category 5, should now be reported with in Category 13. It also confirms that torches and bike lights should continue to be reported in Category 2 (small household appliances). Any other EEE products containing LED light sources should remain in the category in which they were previously reported.
For further information about how this affects your obligations, please contact the WEEE team on 0845 094 2228 or email weee@ecosurety.com

James Champ
Lead compliance data manager
Following a brief career in the legal industry, James joined the compliance team in August 2012, and since has undertaken a variety of roles in account management and scheme operations.
He now holds the role of Technical manager where he is responsible for ensuring Ecosurety and its members are compliant across the packaging, WEEE and batteries regulations. In addition, he also leads our technical service delivery team who support clients with various data projects and international compliance activities.

Useful links
The UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations require companies to take responsibility for reducing the environmental impact of electrical items they place on to the UK market, when the products reach the end of their lives.
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