IMPORTANT NOTICE - ELECTRONIC SCRAP

IMPORTANT NOTICE CONCERNING ELECTRONIC SCRAP

On 20th June 2019, the EU clarified their determinations on the regulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (2019/1021). Specifically, the EU has adopted stricter rules on the disposal of waste containing POPs which includes waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). POPs plastics must now be disposed of via thermal treatment to minimise their risk to human health and the environment. This will have knock-on effect for those involved in the WEEE recycling industry and potentially other areas of recycling.

Typically, waste that would previously have been coded under EWC 160214 and 160216 (printed circuit boards/electronic scrap etc.) is very likely to now be classified as Hazardous under EWC Code 160215*

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU, THE CONSIGNOR: (guidance can be found in the following documents)

• You must identify if your waste contains POPs https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dispose-of-waste-containing-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops
• You must classify any waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that leaves your premises https://www.gov.uk/guidance/classify-some-waste-electrical-devices-components-and-wastes-from-their-treatment
• If it contains POPs you must consign it as hazardous waste https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hazardous-waste-consignment-note-supplementary-guidance
• You should keep records of hazardous waste that has left your premises https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140328090630/http://cdn.environment-agency.gov.uk/geho0611btuv-e-e.pdf

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US, THE CONSIGNEE:

• We must carry out a pre-acceptance procedure to determine if we are able to accept the waste
• We must ensure that all waste received by us is correctly classified
• We must submit a quarterly return to the Environment Agency detailing all hazardous waste that we have received
• We must return the Completed Part E of the Consignment Note to the Consignor or issue a Consignee Quarterly Return

We therefore ask, if you have any of these materials to deliver to us, please call/email first, so that we can start the pre-acceptance procedure. We cannot accept material that arrives unannounced.
We’re aware that these new rules can be confusing if you’re not used to handling Hazardous Waste, so please contact us if you need assistance, we’ll do our best to help as much as we can.