Defra have finalised the collection targets for household WEEE for 2022, confirming the amounts that producer compliance schemes must collect and send for recycling on behalf of their members.
The overall target for 2022 has been set at 511,377 tonnes, which is a 20,836 tonne (or 4.25%) increase from collections reported to the environment agencies in 2021. It is also 7,748 tonnes higher than the 2021 target.
The annual target is allocated across the 14 categories of EEE detailed in the table below, which include small domestic appliances and lighting equipment.
Ambitious targets
Collection data from 2020 was not used in consideration of this target, as it was classed as an ‘extraordinary year’ for collections due to widespread closures of Household Waste Recycling Centres resulting from COVID restrictions.
Defra’s more ambitious targets this year reflect that, with no more lockdowns imminent, collections of WEEE are expected to increase. However, collection targets have been missed consecutively for the last five years, meaning the compliance fee has had to be used to achieve compliance.
Defra will be looking to address the gap between targets and actual WEEE reported as recycled in the system in an upcoming consultation on reforming the WEEE producer responsibility system.
As producers effectively fund recycling via their chosen compliance schemes, there will be an increase in their market share obligation due to the increased targets for this year.
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