The Environment Agency have recently updated the EEE scope guidance held on gov.uk: Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) covered by the WEEE Regulations – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Any upholstered domestic seating which are electrical, such as electrical recliner chairs, are now considered out of scope of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 (as amended).
Reference to recliner chairs has been removed from Category 1 on the above guidance page. At present, commercial seating remains in scope. This position may be reviewed in future.
Why has this change been made?
Waste upholstered domestic seating contains foam and textiles that are classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) waste. POPs waste must not be recycled – it must be destroyed, by means of incineration, so that the harmful chemicals do not persist in the environment.
Processes and infrastructure are not currently in place to manage electrical waste upholstered domestic seating which arises in the WEEE stream appropriately. There is therefore an increased risk of POPs contamination by classifying and handling electrical waste upholstered domestic seating as Category 1 WEEE. As such, it is no longer considered appropriate to apply the WEEE Regulations to these products.
Electrical waste upholstered domestic seating must be treated in accordance with the following guidance: Manage waste upholstered domestic seating containing POPs – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What does this change mean?
If you reported electrical and electronic upholstered domestic seating in 2022 or 2023 please contact the Wastecare Compliance Team by the 15th of September.
- You will not pick up an obligation for the 2023 compliance period for these products based on your 2022 EEE data. The Wastecare Compliance Team will liaise the Environment Agency to ensure your 2022 and 2023 data is amended accordingly.
- Should you need to resubmit your 2023 EEE data (Quarters 1 and 2) you can do so on myWaste.
- Should you need to resubmit your 2022 data, you must notify us via email so we can contact the EA and make the necessary changes to your data.
Queries
If you have any queries please contact the Wastecare Compliance Scheme at compliance@wastecare.co.uk or call 0330 331 1801.
