Distributor take back scheme explained

Distributor’s Obligation

The WEEE Regulations state that a Distributor

• of Electrical Products to the retail market for consumers must offer to take back waste products for recycling if a customer buys a similar product from them.

When consumers buy a new TV, electric heater, LED lamp, drill, etc from any outlet (distributor/wholesaler/retailer/online store), the outlet must offer a service to take back the old one that is being replaced. This includes Recolight Members selling to consumers.

 Distributors have two ways of providing a take back service

1. They can accept the old product back at their store/warehouse, and then arrange to dispose of it themselves. Where the distributor is also a producer member of Recolight, we can help arrange this service, often on a free of charge basis.
2. They could also chose to join the Distributor Take Back Scheme (DTS). Distributors are then able to inform consumers of the location of their nearest location for recycling. The consumer is responsible to transport the waste item to these locations themselves, which are typically at the Household Waste Recycling Centres, with the Distributor effectivly contributing financially to the recycling system.

Operation of the UK DTS

The DTS is operated by an independent company, who levy various charges to Distributors dependent on their turnover and the quantity of electrical goods sold.

The money paid to the DTS goes to help funding the infrastructure for electrical waste at Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC).