WEEE Information

Waste electrical goods range from hairdryers to washing machines and make up the fastest growing waste stream in the UK.

In one year the amount of electrical waste we create in the UK would fill the new Wembley 6 times!

This is a lot of electrical waste! So to reduce the amount of electrical items going to landfill the government has introduced some new regulations called

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations.

The amount of electrical waste we throw away is increasing by around 5% each year, making it the fastest growing waste stream in the UK.

Each year in the UK we go throw away over 1.2 million tonnes of electrical and electronic waste. That is the equivalent of 150 thousand double decker buses!

This increase is mainly down to:

• new technologies being developed
• affluent society
• throw away lifestyle

Over 75% of waste electrical goods end up in landfill, where lead and other toxins contained in the electrical goods can cause soil and water contamination.

This can have a very harmful effect on natural habitat, wildlife and also human health. When situated near populated areas these toxins can cause problems to communities as their water and soil is polluted.

Many of the electrical items that we throw away can be repaired or recycled. Recycling items helps to save natural finite resources and also reduces the environmental and health risks associated with sending waste electrical goods to landfill.

To minimise our impact on this earth and to protect the environment for future generations it is important that we are all aware of the consequences of our actions and how we can make a difference.

Electrical goods are the fastest growing waste stream in the UK, growing by 5% each year

In the UK the amount of electrical waste we create in one year would fill the new Wembley 6 times!

Each year in the UK we go through over 1.2 million tonnes of electrical waste. That is the equivalent of 150 thousand double decker buses!

75% of waste electronics end up in landfill sites

In the lifetime of 1 UK citizen 3.3 tonnes of waste electronics is created! (weeeman.org)

Two million TV sets are discarded every year - most end up in landfill sites (Recycle Now)

"Over six million electrical items are thrown away every year in the UK. It is estimated that over half of them are still working or could easily be repaired." (ITDG, 2003)

15 million mobile phones are upgraded in the UK each year, laid from end-to-end they would reach from John O'Groats to Lands End! (www.sciencemuseum.org.uk)

The Crossed out Wheelie Bin symbol

Electrical and Electronic Equipment that was made after 13 August 2005 should display this symbol on the packaging or product. Either send the product to be repaired and reused or recycle it at your nearest recycle centre.

MODELZONE LMITED IS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE REGULATIONS BY OFFERING AN IN STORE TAKE BACK SERVICE.