Removing batteries, plugs and power cables from WEEE at HWRCs: RPS 295
Environment Agency regulatory position on removing batteries, plugs and power cables from waste electrical and electronic equipment at household waste recycling centres.
- From:
- Environment Agency
- Published
- 8 May 2024
- Last updated
- 6 August 2025 — See all updates
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to comply with an environmental permit for a waste operation when you manually remove plugs, cable and the batteries from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) at household waste recycling centres.
However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with this legal requirement if you meet the requirements in the RPS.
The regulatory position does not apply to any other legal requirements.
Updates to this page
Published 8 May 2024
Last updated 6 August 2025
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
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Added “you must comply with any additional requirements of the designated collection facilities code of practice if you are an approved designated collection facility” to section 2. This is to make it clear that designated collection facilities must also comply with the requirements of the code of practice for any cable, batteries and plugs removed from items of WEEE.
-
First published.
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Update history
2025-08-06 09:08
Added “you must comply with any additional requirements of the designated collection facilities code of practice if you are an approved designated collection facility” to section 2. This is to make it clear that designated collection facilities must also comply with the requirements of the code of practice for any cable, batteries and plugs removed from items of WEEE.
2024-05-08 15:27
First published.
Details
This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to comply with an environmental permit for a waste operation when you manually remove plugs, cable and the batteries from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) at household waste recycling centres.
However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with this legal requirement if you meet the requirements in the RPS.
The regulatory position does not apply to any other legal requirements.
Updates to this page
-
Added “you must comply with any additional requirements of the designated collection facilities code of practice if you are an approved designated collection facility” to section 2. This is to make it clear that designated collection facilities must also comply with the requirements of the code of practice for any cable, batteries and plugs removed from items of WEEE.
-
First published.
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2025-08-06 09:08
Added “you must comply with any additional requirements of the designated collection facilities code of practice if you are an approved designated collection facility” to section 2. This is to make it clear that designated collection facilities must also comply with the requirements of the code of practice for any cable, batteries and plugs removed from items of WEEE.
2024-05-08 15:27
First published.