We get asked by businesses all the time: Can the batteries stay in? What counts as hazardous under WEEE? Do we need documentation to stay compliant?
Disposing of e-waste sounds simple, but unclear guidance often leads to delays, confusion, and piles of forgotten waste stuck in the corner.
At Sixtowns Waste, we are here to help you and your business navigate the often confusing WEEE compliance and we will dispose of your electrical waste in the right way.
“We thought we were in the clear…”
Some companies don’t know what their legal responsibilities are if they have to get rid of old computers. This includes the responsibility to register as a producer, report quantities, and make sure proper recycling and documentation procedures are in place. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to check.
“Jim the scrap man usually gets rid of our stuff…”
Using an unlicensed waste carrier or recycler seems harmless enough but, you could end up with data breaches and legal penalties. Do you fancy calling all your customers to say ‘can you please change your bank details, there’s been a data breach?’ The courts take a very dim view of this and it questions the validity of a business.
“We always store it like that…”
The way you store your business waste is probably the biggest give-away when it comes to staying on the right side of the law. Even the way you store things like old laptops forces the Health and Safety Executive to ask awkward questions about how you run the rest of your business. Running a business is hard enough without falling foul of regulations you didn’t even know existed. At Sixtowns Waste, we can help you keep on the straight and narrow.
“Surely that doesn’t count?…”
Mis-identifying what qualifies as WEEE causes one of the biggest problems. Mixing hazardous e-waste (like batteries or mercury-containing devices) with general waste is a common breach. The financial punishments can hurt.
“Can we tell our customers we recycle?…”
Your sustainability message is going to get more important as time goes on. By using a legitimate recycling partner, you’ll be in a position where you can happily tell your customers that you have a sustainability policy in place. We know this still sounds a bit like mumbo-jumbo to some companies but your customers are getting more and more aware… and they’ll soon be asking you the question.
IT Asset Disposal & Business Accountability
There are two main regulations that govern ITAD, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment regs (WEEE). As with most regulations, these two aren’t static but are constantly evolving, which can be difficult for businesses to stay on top of.
This creates a gap between what’s required and what’s actually going on. Some businesses opt for convenience over compliance. Companies then outsource this responsibility and assume it’s being handled. Accountability doesn’t transfer so easily, the liability often still sits with the original data controller. If you’re responsible for IT or data governance, this is something worth revisiting regularly, not just during an audit or after something’s gone wrong.
To find out more about WEEE compliance in your industry or if you need help with IT asset disposal, contact us at info@sixtownswaste.co.uk or call 01782 438993.