Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment
Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation means we are being asked to separate and recycle our electronic and electrical goods.
WEEE aims to promote the reuse, recycling and recovery of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment - items like toasters, kettles, cookers, irons, televisions, computer equipment, toys and sports equipment and medical devices.
As you buy new electrical and electronic equipment you will notice it carries a new recycling symbol encouraging you to recycle it when the time comes.
Householders
When you purchase new electrical or electronic equipment such as a television or computer, the store you buy from (this includes mail order and internet sales) must tell you how to dispose of your old item.
In some cases, the store will take-back your old WEEE for you. Alternatively they may advise you to take it to one of the Council sites (see below) where you can dispose of it free of charge.
As a householder, you may take your unwanted electronic and electrical appliances to one of Coleraine Borough Council's recycling centres:
• Coleraine Recycling & Disposal Centre, Loughanhill Industrial Estate, Gateside Road, Coleraine.
• Portrush Recycling & Disposal Centre, Causeway Street, Portrush.
• Kilrea Recycling & Disposal Centre, Lisnagrot Road, Kilrea.
From each of these sites, Coleraine Borough Council will ensure that your old irons, televisions, radios, microwaves, toasters, kettles, vacuum cleaners and computer equipment are all safely recycled. This waste is being collected for recycling on behalf of the electrical producers who originally sold the goods.
Businesses
The WEEE legislation also applies to any business using electronic and electrical equipment (EEE). From 1st July 2007 you must recycle and dispose of WEEE separately from your other waste. You must use a licensed company to collect and dispose of or recycle your WEEE. Remember to keep proof (the paperwork that the collection company gives you) that you used a licensed company for 3 years.
Disposal is free of charge if:
• if it was sold to you after 13 August 2005
• you are replacing it with new equivalent EEE
In the above circumstances it is the responsibility of the producer of the equipment to dispose of it. Your supplier will give you information on whichever take-back scheme they have put in place.
You have to pay for disposal to a licensed company if:
• you are discarding EEE which was purchased before 13 August 2005, and are not replacing it with equivalent EEE
• you cannot trace the producer or their compliance scheme
• you are purchasing new EEE and you choose, through negotiation with the producer, to accept the future costs of treating and disposing of it.
It is a good idea to talk it over with your supplier to find out what arrangements they have in place, what advise they can give you and if there is room for negotiating on the price. Remember that by looking after your electrical and electronic equipment and going for repair rather than disposal you will reduce the cost of waste disposal.
For further information on the recycling services offered by Coleraine Borough Council call the Technical Services Department on 028 7034 7272.