How is your WEEE obligation calculated?

You may know that if you import, re-brand or manufacture electrical or electronic equipment into the UK then you are deemed a producer, and must register with the Environment Agency through a Producer Compliance Scheme.

However, as a producer, you need to finance the cost of collection, treatment and recovery of WEEE based on the category of equipment that you import, re-brand or manufacture. For B2C (business-to-consumer) producers you must finance this for each year that you are a producer placing over 5 tonnes of EEE onto the market. The reason B2C producers are required to finance these costs each compliance year is because B2C WEEE is much more likely to enter to UK waste stream compared to B2B WEEE, and thus the money is used to invest in collection networks and recycling centres.

From 2014, the obligation for each B2C producer is calculated based on the following equation:

(A ÷ B) x C

A = the total amount of EEE you placed on the market within one category in the previous compliance year.

B = the total amount of EEE placed on the market by all producers within one category in the previous compliance year.

C = the amount of WEEE determined by the Secretary of State to be the Collection Target in the current compliance year.

Figures for part B and C can be found here – 2014 WEEE Target Figures

For more information you can read our How to Calculate your Obligation guide or contact one of our team on 0845 094 2228.

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