The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 No. 3113

PART 1U.K.GENERAL

InterpretationU.K.

2. In these Regulations—

[F1“the Directive” means Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE),] [F2as last amended by Directive (EU) 2018/849] [F3, as read in accordance with regulation 2A];

[F4“the Waste Directive” means Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste] [F5, as last amended by] [F6Directive (EU) 2018/851] [F7and as read in accordance with regulation 2B ];

“AATF” means an approved authorised treatment facility;

F8...

“active implantable medical device” means an active implantable medical device within the meaning of [F9regulation 2(1) of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002] which are EEE;

“appliances containing refrigerants” means—

(a)

large cooling appliances;

(b)

refrigerators;

(c)

freezers; and

(d)

other large appliances for refrigeration, conservation and storage of food

that fall within category 1 of Schedule 1;

“approved authorised treatment facility” means an authorised treatment facility which is approved under regulation 61;

“approved exporter” means an exporter who is approved under regulation 61;

“appropriate authority” means—

(a)

for the purposes of any provision of these Regulations relating to the exercise of the functions of the appropriate authority in England, the Environment Agency;

(b)

for the purposes of any provision of these Regulations relating to the exercise of the functions of the appropriate body in Wales, the Natural Resources Body for Wales;

(c)

for the purposes of any provision of these Regulations relating to the exercise of the functions of the appropriate authority in Scotland, SEPA;

(d)

for the purposes of any provision of these Regulations relating to the exercise of the functions of the appropriate authority in Northern Ireland, the [F10Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs];

(e)

F11...

(f)

[F12subject to sub-paragraph (fa), for the purposes of Part 3 relating to the obligations of a producer]—

(i)

where the producer’s registered office or principal place of business is in England, the Environment Agency;

(ii)

where the producer’s registered office or principal place of business is in Wales, the Natural Resources Body for Wales;

(iii)

where the producer’s registered office or principal place of business is in Scotland, SEPA;

(iv)

where the producer’s registered office or principal place of business is in Northern Ireland, the [F10Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs];

(v)

[F13where the producer’s registered office or principal place of business is outside the United Kingdom, the Environment Agency;]

(fa)

[F14for the purposes of regulations 14(9) and 20(4) relating to the obligations of a producer or an authorised representative, who is a member of a scheme, the authority which granted the approval of that scheme under regulation 55;]

(h)

for the purposes of Part 4 relating to the obligations of an operator of a scheme, the appropriate authority which granted approval of that operator’s scheme under regulation 55;

(i)

for the purposes of Part 7 relating to the approval of schemes—

(i)

where the operator of the scheme’s registered office or principal place of business is in England, the Environment Agency;

(ii)

where the operator of the scheme’s registered office or principal place of business is in Wales, the Natural Resources Body for Wales;

(iii)

where the operator of the scheme’s registered office or principal place of business is in Scotland, SEPA;

(iv)

where the operator of the scheme’s registered office or principal place of business is in Northern Ireland, the [F10Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs];

(j)

for the purposes of Part 8 relating to the approval of authorised treatment facilities and exporters—

(i)

where the registered office or principal place of business of the operator of the ATF or of the exporter is in England, the Environment Agency;

(ii)

where the registered office or principal place of business of the operator of the ATF or of the exporter is in Wales, the Natural Resources Body for Wales;

(iii)

where the registered office or principal place of business of the operator of the ATF or of the exporter is in Scotland, SEPA; and

(iv)

where the registered office or principal place of business of the operator of the ATF or of the exporter is in Northern Ireland, the [F10Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs];

(k)

for the purposes of Schedule 12 relating to designated collection facilities—

(i)

where the operator of the collection facility’s registered office or principal place of business is in England, the Environment Agency;

(ii)

where the operator of a the collection facility’s registered office or principal place of business is in Wales, the Natural Resources Body for Wales;

(iii)

where the operator of the collection facility’s registered office or principal place of business is in Scotland, SEPA; and

(iv)

where the operator of the collection facility’s registered office or principal place of business is in Northern Ireland, the [F10Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs];

“ATF” means an authorised treatment facility;

“authorised representative” means any person who is established in the United Kingdom and who has been appointed by a producer under regulation 14(2);

“authorised treatment facility” means any facility operated by an establishment or undertaking carrying out treatment and which is licensed or otherwise permitted under or by virtue of any legislation made in the United Kingdom, or in any part of the United Kingdom, which implements Article 9 of the Directive;

“collection” has the meaning given by Article 3 the Waste Directive;

“code of practice” means the code of practice issued by the Secretary of State under regulation 72;

“compliance fee” means a fee calculated in accordance with the methodology approved by the Secretary of State under regulation 76;

“compliance period” means—

(a)

the first compliance period; or

(b)

any year following the first compliance period;

F15...

“declaration of compliance” means the declaration of compliance referred to in regulation 19(1) or 39(1);

[F16“Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs” means the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland;]

“designated collection facility” means any establishment or undertaking carrying out collection operations and which is approved by the Secretary of State under regulation 70;

“display equipment” means—

(a)

personal computer screens that fall within category 3 of Schedule 1, and

(b)

television sets that fall within category 4 of Schedule 1;

“disposal” has the meaning given by Article 3 the Waste Directive;

“distributor” means any person in the supply chain who makes an item of EEE available on the market but a distributor may also be a producer;

“distributor take back scheme” means a distributor take back scheme approved by the Secretary of State under regulation 68;

“EEE” means electrical and electronic equipment;

“EEE producer registration number” means the registration number issued to a producer or their authorised representative by the appropriate authority under regulation 26;

“electrical and electronic equipment” means equipment which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly and equipment for the generation, transfer and measurement of such currents and fields and designed for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1,000 volts for alternating current and 1,500 volts for direct current;

“end-user” means any person who uses a piece of EEE;

“enforcement authority” has the meaning given in regulation 87(5);

“enforcement notice” means a notice in writing served in accordance with regulation 88; “enforcement officer” has the meaning given in regulation 89(15)(b);

“Environment Agency” means the body established under section 1(1) of the Environment Act 1995(1);

[F17“evidence note” means an evidence note issued, in the format approved by the Secretary of State under regulation 73, by—

(a)

an operator of an AATF, as evidence of the receipt of tonnage of WEEE specified in the note for—

(i)

reuse as a whole appliance; or

(ii)

treatment at an ATF;

(b)

an approved exporter, as evidence of the receipt of tonnage of WEEE for export specified in the note for reuse as a whole appliance outside the United Kingdom;]

“exporter” means a person who, in the ordinary course of conduct of a trade, occupation or profession, exports—

(a)

used EEE for reuse as a whole appliance outside the United Kingdom; or

(b)

WEEE for treatment, recovery or recycling outside the United Kingdom;

“financial year” in relation to a scheme member—

(a)

where that scheme member is a company is determined as provided in—

(i)

section 390(1) to (3) of the Companies Act 2006(2), or

(ii)

article 231(1) to (3) of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986(3); and

(b)

in any other case has the meaning given in—

(i)

section 390(4) of the Companies Act 2006, or

(ii)

article 231(4) of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986,

but as if the reference there to an undertaking were a reference to that scheme member;

“first compliance period” means the period commencing on 1st January 2014 and ending with 31st December 2014;

“first quarter period” means a period commencing on 1st January and ending with 31st March;

“fourth quarter period” means a period commencing on 1st October and ending with 31st December;

“gas discharge lamp” means a gas discharge lamp that falls within category 5 of Schedule 1;

“hazardous waste” has the meaning given by Article 3 of the Waste Directive;

[F18“in vitro diagnostic medical device” means an in vitro diagnostic device or accessory within the meaning of—

(a)

regulation 2(1) of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 in relation to England and Wales and Scotland, and

(b)

Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/746 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices and repealing Directive 98/79/EC and Commission Decision 2010/227/EU in relation to Northern Ireland,

which is EEE;.]

“issue” in relation to an evidence note means to sell or otherwise supply to any person;

“large-scale stationary industrial tools” means a large-scale assembly of machines, equipment, and/or components, functioning together for a specific application, permanently installed and de-installed by professionals at a given place, and used and maintained by professionals in an industrial manufacturing facility or research and development facility;

“large scale fixed installations” means a large–size combination of several types of apparatus and, where applicable, other devices which:

(a)

are assembled, installed and de-installed by professionals

(b)

are intended to be used permanently as part of a building or a structure at a pre-defined and dedicated location; and

(c)

can only be replaced by the same specifically designed equipment;

“LED light source” means a product that falls within category 5 of Schedule 1 and which uses an integrated light emitting diode as its light source;

[F19“local authority” means—

(a)

in England, Wales and Scotland, an authority mentioned in section 30(2) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990;

(b)

in Northern Ireland, a district council within the meaning of section 1 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972;]

“making available on the market” means any supply of a product for distribution, consumption or use on the market of [F20the United Kingdom] in the course of a commercial activity, whether in return for payment or free of charge;

“medical device” means a medical device or accessory [F21within the meaning of regulation 2(1) of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002, which is WEEE];

F22...

[F23“national authority” means—

(a)

in relation to England, the Secretary of State;

(b)

in relation to Wales, the Welsh Ministers;

(c)

in relation to Scotland, the Scottish Ministers;

(d)

in relation to Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs;]

“Natural Resources Body for Wales” means the body established by article 3 of the Natural Resources Body for Wales (Establishment) Order 2012(4);

“new scheme” has the meaning given in regulation 14(9)(a);

“non-obligated WEEE” means WEEE received by an AATF or approved exporter other than from or on behalf of a scheme;

“non-road mobile machinery” means machinery, with an on-board power source, the operation of which requires either mobility or continuous or semi-continuous movement between a succession of fixed working locations while working;

“old scheme” has the meaning given in regulation 14(9);

“operator of an AATF” means the operator of a treatment facility that has been approved under regulation 61;

“operator of a collection facility” means the operator of an establishment or undertaking carrying out collection operations;

“operator of a scheme” means the operator of a scheme that has been approved under regulation 55;

“operator of a proposed scheme” means the operator of a proposed scheme that is the subject of an application for approval made under regulation 55;

[F24“PBS” means producer compliance scheme balancing system;]

“placing on the market” means the first making available of a product on the market F25... on a professional basis;

“Planning Appeals Commission” means the Planning Appeals Commission constituted under Article 110 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991(5);

“premises” includes any land or means of transport;

“preparing for re-use” has the meaning given by Article 3 of, and Annex I of the Waste Directive;

“prevention” has the meaning given by Article 3 of, and Annex I of the Waste Directive;

“producer” means any natural or legal person who, irrespective of the selling technique used, including by means of distance communication F26... —

(a)

is established in [F27the United Kingdom] and manufactures EEE under his own name or trademark, or has EEE designed or manufactured and markets it under his own name or trademark within the [F28United Kingdom];

(b)

is established in [F27the United Kingdom] and resells within the [F28United Kingdom], under his own name or trademark, equipment produced by other suppliers, a reseller not being regarded as the “producer” if the brand of the producer appears on the equipment, as provided for in sub-paragraph (a);

(c)

[F29is established in the United Kingdom and places on the market, on a professional basis, EEE from a country other than the United Kingdom; or

(d)

[F29sells EEE by means of distance communication directly to private households or to users other than private households in the United Kingdom and is established in a country other than the United Kingdom.]

“proposed scheme” means a proposed scheme that is the subject of an application for approval made under regulation 55;

“quarter period” means—

(a)

the first quarter period;

(b)

the second quarter period;

(c)

the third quarter period;

(d)

the fourth quarter period;

“recovery” has the meaning given by Article 3 of and Annex II of the Waste Directive, and “recover”, “recovered” and “recovery operation” shall be construed accordingly;

“recycling” has the meaning given by Article 3 of the Waste Directive and “recycled” and “recycling operation” shall be construed accordingly;

“register of producers” means the register of producers maintained by the appropriate authority under regulation 77;

“registered in the United Kingdom” means—

(a)

registered under the Companies Act 2006 or under the former Companies Acts (as defined in that Act); or

(b)

registered, or deemed to be registered, under the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 or under the former Companies Acts (as defined in that Order);

“relevant approval period” has the meaning given in regulation 61(7);

“relevant authorisation” means—

(a)

a permit granted under regulation 13(1) of [F30the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016] or [F31regulation 13] of the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012(6);

(b)

an exempt waste operation under [F30the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016] or any other operation exempt from the requirements of section 33(1)(a) and (b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 under those Regulations;

(c)

an exemption registered or otherwise permitted under regulations 17 and 19 of the Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011(7);

(d)

a permit granted under regulation 10 of the Pollution Prevention and Control (Industrial Emissions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013(8);

(e)

an exemption registered under regulation 18 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(9), or

(f)

a waste management licence granted under article 8 of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997(10);

“relevant compliance period” means any compliance period, or any part of a compliance period, in respect of which any person has any obligation under these Regulations;

“reprocessor” means a person who, in the ordinary course of conduct of a trade, occupation or profession, carries out one or more activities of recovery or recycling and who holds a relevant authorisation;

“removal” means manual, mechanical, chemical or metallurgic handling with the result that hazardous substances, mixtures and components are contained in an identifiable stream or are in an identifiable part of a stream within the treatment process. A substance, mixture or component is identifiable if it can be monitored to verify environmentally safe treatment;

“reuse” has the meaning given by Article 3 of, and Annex I of the Waste Directive and “reused” shall be construed accordingly;

“scheme” means a scheme that operates in the United Kingdom and has been approved [F32by] the relevant appropriate authority under regulation 55;

“scheme member” means—

(a)

a producer who is a member of a scheme on their own behalf; or

(b)

where a producer has appointed an authorised representative under regulation 14, the authorised representative on behalf of the producer who has appointed them

“Scottish Environment Protection Agency” means the body established under section 20(1) of the Environment Act 1995;

“second quarter period” means a period commencing on 1st April and ending with 30th June;

“SEPA” means the Scottish Environment Protection Agency;

“small producer” means a person falling within the definition of producer and who places less than 5 tonnes of EEE onto the market in a compliance period;

“the transitional period” means 1st January 2014 until 31st December 2018;

“third quarter period” means a period commencing on 1st July and ending with 30th September;

“separate collection” has the meaning given by Article 3 of the Waste Directive;

“treatment” has the meaning given by Article 3 of the Waste Directive, and “treat”, “treated” and “treatment operation” shall be construed accordingly;

“turnover” means, in relation to a scheme member, their turnover as defined in—

(a)

section 474(1) of the Companies Act 2006, or

(b)

article 270(1) of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, but as if the references to a company were references to that person;

[F33“very small WEEE” means an item of WEEE with no external dimension more than 25cm;]

“waste electrical and electronic equipment” means electrical or electronic equipment which is waste within the meaning of Article 3(1) of the Waste Directive [F34, as read with Articles 5 and 6 of that Directive,] including all components, subassemblies and consumables which are part of the product at the time of discarding;

“WEEE” means waste electrical and electronic equipment;

“WEEE collection stream” means—

(a)

large household appliances

(b)

appliances containing refrigerants

(c)

display equipment

(d)

lamps

(e)

all other WEEE that is separately collected at a designated collection facility during a compliance period

(f)

photovoltaic Panels

“WEEE from private households” means WEEE which comes from private households and WEEE which comes from commercial, industrial, institutional and other sources which, because of its nature and quantity, is similar to that from private households. Waste from EEE likely to be used by both private households and users other than private households shall in any event be considered to be WEEE from private households;

“writing” includes text that is—

(a)

transmitted by electronic means,

(b)

received in legible form, and

(c)

capable of being used for subsequent reference; and

“year” means a calendar year commencing on 1st January.]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in reg. 2 substituted (28.2.2019) by The Waste (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/188), regs. 1(2)(a), 8(2)(a)

F2Words in reg. 2 substituted (1.10.2020) by The Waste (Circular Economy) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/904), regs. 1(1), 18(a)

F3Words in reg. 2 inserted (31.12.2020) by The Waste (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/188), regs. 1(2)(b), 19(2)(a) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1540, regs. 1(2), 11(2)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)