Change description : 2025-08-12 11:48:00: Updated the extent of obligation to include operators of online marketplaces (OMPs) who place EEE on the UK market from non-UK based suppliers. Updated the type of business who can join the DTS to include solely online retailers and exclude vape retailers. [Guidance and regulation]
Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is regulated to reduce the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) incinerated or sent to landfill sites.
Reduction is achieved through various measures which encourage the recovery, reuse and recycling of products and components.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (as amended) is the underpinning UK legislation. These regulations were amended in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment, etc.) Regulations 2025.
What is covered
The regulations cover EEE defined in 1415 broad categories.
The regulations do not apply to:
products for military use
a piece of equipment designed for and installed in another type of equipment which can only function within that product, for example a built-in satellite navigation system installed into cars, boats or aeroplanes
filament bulbs apart from LED filament bulbs, to which the regulations do apply
equipment designed to be sent into space
large-scale stationary industrial tools
large-scale fixed installations which perform specific industrial operations
transport for persons or goods, excluding electric 2 wheeled vehicles which are not type-approved
off-road mobile machinery for professional use only
equipment designed only for research and development use and only available via business to business (B2B)
manufacture and sell EEE under their own brand in the United Kingdom (UK)
buy EEE and then make changes to rebrand the product and resell to the UK market. (If the maker’s brand appears on the equipment, then they are the producer)
import EEE on a commercial basis into the UK
are established outside of thethe UK and andsupplysupply EEE directly directlyto thethe UK end-user marketby distance sellingselling, e.g.for example, online, mail order,order or by phone
operators of online marketplaces (OMPs) who place EEE on the UK market from non-UK based suppliers.
Distributors (including retailers) who make EEE available on the UK market, including by distance selling.
Producers may also be distributors and can often be the same business. However, private individuals importing products are not liable to comply with the regulations.
How to comply
Producer obligations
Register as a producer annually. How producers do this depends on how much EEE they have placed on the UK market in the previous and current calendar year (also known as a compliance year):
if they place less than 5 tonnes of EEE on the UK market in a compliance year, they can register directly with their environmental regulator as a small producer
if they place more than 5 tonnes of EEE on the market, they must join a producer compliance scheme (PCS)
The PCS takes on their obligations to finance the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of household WEEE collected in the UK,.
accept WEEE for free from customers supplied with like-for-like products, regardless of whether this is done in store, online or by mail order
retain a record of all WEEE taken back for at least four years
provide customers access to written information on the service provided and what they should do with their WEEE
Retailers with a sales area of EEE greater than 400 square metres must also accept small WEEE (less than 25 cm on its longest side) for free from private household customers at their retail site or close to it without the requirement to purchase new EEE.
If your business sells less than £100,000 of EEE per year,year or is solely an online EEE retailer, or both, you can join the Distributor Takeback Scheme(DTS)(DTS). now.Vape retailers are excluded from DTS.
In addition, allretailers selling single-useall types of vapes in store or online must meet specific obligations for their collection and recycling. For further information pleaseregarding watchvapes, thesee followingSingle-use video.
The role of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)
The OfficeOPSS forProductSafetyandStandardshas been appointed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to enforce the regulations in thethe UK in inrelation to:
marking of EEE with the ‘crossed-out wheeled bin’ symbol
If you have a specific enquiry about compliance or wish to contact us regarding suspected non-compliance please email OPSS.enquiries@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
Alternatively you can contact our helpdesk on 0121 345 1201.
Or in writing to:
Office for Product Safety and Standards 4th Floor Multistory 18 The Priory Queensway Birmingham B4 6BS United Kingdom