Frequently asked questions

Questions for producers

• What will happen if I decide not to join a collective WEEE take-back system?
  
  The authorities will expect you to demonstrate compliance with the legislation in some other way.
  
  
• My company is active in several sectors; do I need to apply for membership with each of the sector solutions in a given country?
  
  That tends to differ from member state to member state. In some states one WEEE compliance scheme will cover all sectors, while in others several WEEE management systems will cover different sectors.
  
  
• Do the products I make or import fall under the scope of this Directive?
  
  The following ten categories are in the scope of the Directive:

  • Large household appliances
  • Small household appliances
  • IT and telecommunications equipment
  • Consumer equipment
  • Lighting equipment
  • Electrical and electronic tools
  • Toys, leisure and sports equipment
  • Medical devices
  • Monitoring and control instruments
  • Automatic dispensers

  However, member states are entitled to define a somewhat different scope in their legislation transposing the Directive. Therefore, in order to assess if a given type of product falls under the legislation, the national (or sub-national) legislation must be analysed. The take-back systems have lists of products that they collect and recycle.
  
  
• Do I comply with the Directive once my company has become a member of a collective take-back system in a given member state for the products or do I have to fulfil other obligations as well?
  
  In the event the collective take-back system is taking over all responsibilities of administration, logistics and recycling from the individual producer or importer of products, the company needs to assess individually and on a case-by-case basis its financial responsibility. You might need to seek further guidance with your accountant for these matters.
  
  
• Am I supposed to register in each and every country?
  
  Registration takes place at individual member state level in those states where the Directive has been transposed into national legislation. Even though the compliance schemes seek administrative simplification for their member companies by harmonising the procedure for registration and contracts while respecting at the same time the national differences, it is still necessary to register in every country and for every product group. If you would like to receive further information about registration in various European countries, please use our mailing system: http://www.weee-forum.org/index.php?section=members&page=members_community.
  
  

Questions about collective WEEE take-back systems

• How do collective take-back systems minimise costs?
  
  Collective systems typically have a minimum fixed administration. Everything else, such as treatment, recovery, logistics, collection and information, is outsourced following tendering based on open competition among market operators.
  
  
• Can different sectors have different solutions?
  
  Since the law covers so many different types of products, systems that are member of the WEEE Forum have solutions tailor made for each sector, for example fee structures, product range and service level for the on-demand collection. Each sector specifies its own requirements.
  
  
• Are the collective WEEE take-back systems in Europe covering all ten sectors?
  

  Whether a system covers all ten categories differs from country to country.

  
  
  

Questions for consumers or retailers

• What should a retailer do when he receives end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment?
  
  The retailer will accept the end-of-life equipment when selling a new equivalent product. Having collected a certain amount or number of WEEE he or she will then contact the WEEE compliance scheme for collecting the WEEE or drop the product at a local municipal waste collection point.
  
  
• What should a consumer do with his old electrical and electronic product?
  
  A consumer has basically three options:

  1. If his product is not broken and can be refurbished or re-used he may take it to a social utility institution.
  2. He may drop off his old, broken equipment in a collection facility.
  3. When he buys a new product, his retailer will take the end-of-life appliance of equivalent nature, e.g. a refrigerator for a refrigerator but not a hairdryer for a refrigerator. The same applies if the retailer delivers the new equipment to his home.

  
  
  
• What happens to the end-of-life appliance once it has been collected?
  
  Discarded appliances are taken to treatment and processing plants. Devices are all processed in a way that hazardous components, e.g. waste oils or ozone-depleting gases in refrigerators, can be separated. Recoverable materials, such as iron, copper, aluminium, glass or plastic are set aside for the production of new goods.
  
  
• What happens to electrical and electronic equipment that was put on the market many years ago and whose manufacturer possibly no longer exists?
  
  Consumers are entitled to return them free of charge. In most organisations that are member of the WEEE Forum, WEEE management costs are shared among producers who are active on the market today, for example in proportion to their current market share and irrespective of their share of the market at the time when the product was first sold.
  
  
• What are recycling contributions?
  
  The recycling contribution is a small amount which the consumer must pay in addition to the purchase price of a new electrical or electronic product, to cover costs of recycling. This money is used to fund a collection and recycling system that allows discarded devices to be processed in a way that is least harmful to the environment. Retailers are required to take back discarded electrical and electronic goods when consumers buy similar new products. Another option for consumers is to hand in this equipment at municipal collection facilities. The amount of the recycling contribution will vary per product. Contributions are calculated on the basis of the estimated number of electrical and electronic appliances that will be recovered during the lifetime of that product and typically varies between €0.10 and €20 per unit.
  
  

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