GovWire

You must:

• follow the requirements forwhen a material has not become wasteto work out if your item is a waste or a non-waste
• identify waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)that containspersistent organic pollutants (POPs)
• follow the requirements formanaging waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)

Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) manufactured after 1 January 2009, is much less likely to contain polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) POPs. Their use should have stopped for products selling in Europe. However, POPs have been found in some equipment manufactured years after this date.

Reusing WEEE within the UK

You must only reuse WEEE, or components removed from WEEE, as EEE within the UK if both of the following apply:

• the WEEE device was manufactured after 1 January 2009 (you should check the manufacturing date if unsure)
• you have met all the other relevant requirements for reusing WEEE or components removed from WEEE we will publish guidance about the requirements by the end of January 2023

Exporting WEEE

You must only export WEEE, or components removed from WEEE, as EEE if the item is not POPs waste.

To export WEEE devices, you must demonstrate that the whole device does not contain POPs above the concentration limits. POPs may be found in any of the following:

• printed circuit boards
• cables and internal wiring
• plastic components

To export components removed from WEEE, you must demonstrate that the component does not contain POPs:

• if the component is from a device that is POPs waste
• at or above the concentration limits, if the component is not from a device that is POPs waste

You must also meet all other relevant requirements for reusing WEEE.

Contact the Environment Agency

Email POPsinwaste@environment-agency.gov.uk