With the release of Defra’s WEEE collection figures, all predictions made towards the end of 2017 have been realised.
Unfortunately the latest figures reveal that the UK as a whole has missed the WEEE collection targets in all but Category 14. The overall shortfall was close to 100,000 Tonnes of WEEE across all categories – around 16% of the total target.
Compliance fee
With such a shortfall, compliance schemes will be required to fall back on the WEEE compliance fee, used when schemes are unable to gain enough evidence to cover their total obligations. The proceeds from the fee are used to support projects that encourage WEEE recycling and support collections.
As the graph above outlines, each of the Categories (except 14) missed the target. This means that for compliance schemes payment of a fee on their individual shortfalls will have to be made, the exact amount determined by how far each individual scheme is from the target.
What does 2018 look like?
With the UK collection targets likely to remain the same or similar for 2018, and decreasing amounts of Household EEE being placed on the market, this year may well be just as challenging, if not more so, for compliance schemes.
If you would like to discuss your WEEE compliance, please contact us.

Anna Quantick
Client services manager
Anna has many years of account management and packaging data support experience with a huge variety of clients.

Useful links
The UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations require companies to take responsibility for reducing the environmental impact of electrical items they place on to the UK market, when the products reach the end of their lives.
Read More >>In the second quarter of 2023, the WEEE collection figures show that a total of 118,953 tonnes of WEEE has been collected from households across April – June, which is a 3% increase compared to Q1 collections.
Read More >>Across the first quarter of 2023, a total of 120,433 tonnes of household WEEE has been collected, showing a slight increase of 562 tonnes compared to WEEE collected in Q1 2022.
Read More >>