What are the legal considerations?

According to a recent LetsRecycle.com article and the Wirral council’s website, councils all over the country have been given the ability to issue fines starting from £300 to companies who do not dispose of their electrical waste correctly.

Local governments and councils have recently increased measures to ensure businesses are disposing of their waste in an entirely legal and environmentally friendly way. Councils can now ask businesses to produce evidence of the safe disposal of their electrical waste with a certified company. Without proof (in the form of waste transfer notes and official documentation) there is a risk of fines and even prosecution.

Liverpool council's executive member for the environment comments on the risks of businesses not having a trade waste agreement with a licensed waste carrier;

"It is important to make the point that if you are a business and you don't have an agreement, or any plans to put one in place, you will be fined."

(Councillor Berni Turner, LetsRecycle.com)

The WEEE directive was introduced in 2007 to reduce the amount of electrical waste going to landfill each year and to combat the illegal disposal and exporting of waste. Electrical waste can’t be thrown in a skip, bin or anywhere that risks the waste ending up in landfill.

It is essential that both you and the authorities know where your waste ends up. By using Electro Collect to dispose and recycle your electrical waste, you can be confident that you are fulfilling your legal responsibilities and putting your electrical waste to good use.

We will dispose of your waste in the most transparent and efficient way possible – keeping you informed every step of the way with waste transfer notes and certificates of destruction.

If you would like any further advice or support to help you comply with the WEEE Directive contact us.