WEEE Compliance and what is in scope of the WEEE Regulations

23 July 2019 In Blogs By Recolight

Changes to the WEEE Regulations in 2019

The WEEE Regulations have applied to a closed scope of products since 2007. Unless a product was listed in the fourteen categories, then they were out of scope. A specific exclusion meant that household luminaires were also of scope.

In January 2019, the WEEE Regulations moved to an open scope. Under this approach, all products which meet the definition of electrical products are in scope. The previous household luminaire exclusion has been removed for 2019, bringing them into scope, along with wiring accessories such as plugs, sockets, switches.

Companies that sell these products in the UK, termed Producers, need to comply with the UK’s WEEE Regulations and report their UK sales data.

Recolight offer WEEE Compliance for all products in scope of the WEEE Regulations

As a Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS), Recolight provide compliance for all products in scope of the WEEE Regulations. Unlike many PCSs, Recolight charges are based on current sales, not on prior year sales, making it easy for you to budget.. Recolight do not apply any additional charges in respect of market shares, compliance fees, WEEE targets, or WEEE evidence costs. Recolight will not apply put on market charges for new product coming into scope until 2020.

How to work out if a product is in scope

A product is in scope if it is dependent on electric currents to fulfill its basic function. i.e. when the electric current is off, the equipment cannot fulfill its basic function. This means that most electrical products are in scope.

Certain lighting products, such as furniture with integral LED lighting, remain out of scope.

14 Categories of EEE

The WEEE Regulations include fourteen different categories of product. Although many EU countries will move to reporting in six categories from 2019, there will be no such change in the UK. Products will continue to be reported in these fourteen categories.

Large household appliances
Small household appliances
IT and telecommunications equipment
Consumer equipment
Lighting equipment
Electrical and electronic tools (except large scale stationary industrial tools)
Toys, leisure and sports equipment
Medical devices (except implanted and infected products)
Monitoring and control equipment
Automatic dispensers
Display equipment
Appliances containing refrigerants
Gas discharge lamps and LED light sources
Photovoltaic panels