E waste disposal companies differ in what they can take, so the first step is working out what you have. Electronic waste disposal companies and e waste management companies follow the same WEEE rules, so the checks below apply to either. Electrical and electronic equipment discarded by a business is business WEEE. It must be classified, collected through a proper route and treated at an authorised facility. Some items are hazardous. Before any equipment leaves the building, remove the personal data it holds.
This guide explains how WEEE is classified, who pays for collection, how to wipe data and what we take. It does not replace the current gov.uk guidance on WEEE and producer responsibility, which you should check for the detail that applies to your equipment.
E waste disposal companies: what counts as business WEEE
WEEE stands for waste electrical and electronic equipment. It covers items such as computers, screens, printers, telephones, servers, lighting, fridges and freezers. When a business discards that equipment, it is business waste, and the duty of care applies. If you are not sure whether an item counts as business or household equipment, ask your supplier, because the rules for producers and users differ.
Classify the equipment before you book
Gov.uk says you must classify your business waste before it is collected, disposed of or recovered. For electrical items, some categories are hazardous, and that changes the route and the paperwork.
| Item | Classification (gov.uk examples) |
|---|---|
| Cathode ray tube, or flat screen (plasma or LCD), containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs. Industrial or commercial code 16 02 13* |
| Fridges and freezers containing ozone-depleting foam or coolants | Hazardous, non-POPs. Industrial or commercial code 16 02 11* |
| Heat pump tumble dryers | Hazardous, non-POPs, because the coolants are hazardous |
| Screens, circuit boards, batteries or plastic parts within other equipment | May contain hazardous chemicals or POPs, so check before collection |
In a waste code, the asterisk marks a hazardous entry. Tell us what you have before we load it, so we can confirm what we can take.
Who pays to recycle business WEEE
Under the WEEE Regulations 2013, producers of electrical equipment have financing duties for WEEE. The government's guidance notes for businesses explain how these duties work. That guidance has since been withdrawn and replaced by the producer responsibility pages, so check the current pages before you agree who pays. The earlier guidance said that where equipment was placed on the UK market for business use after 13 August 2005, the producer must finance its collection, treatment and disposal when a business discards it. Equipment placed on the market before that date and not replaced by new equipment is generally the end user's responsibility to arrange and pay for.
In practice, ask your supplier whether it will take back equipment it sold you, and ask for the terms in writing.
Authorised treatment only
WEEE can only be treated by an authorised treatment facility that holds the right permit, licence or exemption from the relevant environment agency. The government's WEEE guidance says so directly. Ask any supplier for the name of the facility that will receive your equipment, and make sure the paperwork shows it. Pair that with a transfer note for each load, so the record shows where the equipment went.
Remove personal data before equipment leaves
The Information Commissioner's Office expects organisations to remove personal data from devices before they are recycled or disposed of. It also expects organisations to weigh the security risk of each disposal method, whether the work is done in-house or by a provider. A simple reformat is not enough. Keep a list of devices, record each wipe, and use a documented method. If you use a disposal company, you still need assurance that the work was done properly. The ICO's practical advice on IT systems is a useful starting point.
Before you book a WEEE collection
A WEEE collection goes more smoothly when the supplier knows what it is taking. If you are unsure whether an item counts as business or household equipment, say so at the start, so the supplier can plan the route. Prepare a list that gives the item type, the approximate number of each, the model where you can see it, and whether the equipment has been wiped. Photos of the items and the access route help the supplier plan the load and check whether each item can be taken.
Separate the equipment from general waste as soon as it is removed from use. Keep it in a dry, labelled space away from the route of other stock, so it is not mixed into a general load by mistake. That is the duty of care in practice: the waste is kept safe and identified until it leaves your premises.
Replacing equipment: ask about take-back
When you buy new equipment, ask the supplier whether it will take back the old equipment. Under the producer rules described above, the producer of replacement equipment may be responsible for financing the collection of what it replaces, so the answer can save money and remove a difficult job from your list. Get the answer in writing, and keep it with the purchase paperwork.
What the paperwork should show
For every WEEE load, the paperwork should show what was collected and where it is going. A transfer note records the waste, its codes, the quantity, the carrier and the date, and gov.uk says each load of non-hazardous waste needs one. Hazardous loads need the hazardous waste record rather than the standard note, so ask us which record applies before the first collection. Ask for the name of the authorised treatment facility before collection, and check that it appears on the paperwork you receive.
Common WEEE mistakes
Most problems come from a few avoidable habits. Our checklist for choosing a supplier helps you check the route before you agree anything. The common mistakes are:
- mixing electrical items into general waste, which breaks the sorting and the route;
- collecting equipment before its data has been removed;
- using a collection with no named treatment facility or no transfer note;
- assuming all equipment is non-hazardous, when a fridge, screen or battery may not be.
What Commercial Rubbish takes, and what it does not
Rid Junk Ltd runs Commercial Rubbish. We take WEEE and POPs items to proper facilities, and we give a waste transfer note for each business job. We invoice the company and can agree account terms. We do not offer certified data destruction, and we do not offer hazardous or clinical waste.
Some electrical items are classed as hazardous, so the boundary depends on the item itself. If you think an item may be hazardous, send a photo list before you book, and we will tell you whether we can take it. Our office clearance page explains how electrical equipment fits into a wider clear-out, and you can send your photos through our contact page.
Questions businesses ask
Can I put old computers in the general waste bin?
No. Electrical equipment is not general waste. WEEE has its own treatment route, some of it is hazardous, and the duty of care requires your waste to be kept safe and passed only to an authorised carrier. Keep the equipment together, label it as electrical waste and arrange collection through a proper route.
Who pays to recycle our old office equipment?
Often the producer. Gov.uk's earlier WEEE guidance for business said the producer must finance collection and treatment of business equipment placed on the market after 13 August 2005, and that older equipment is generally the end user's responsibility. That guidance has been withdrawn, so check the current producer responsibility pages and ask your supplier to confirm the arrangement in writing.
Do you wipe hard drives?
We do not offer certified data destruction. You need to remove personal data before the equipment is collected, using a documented method or a specialist wiping service, and you should keep a record of the wipe. The ICO says a simple reformat is not enough to securely delete data, because recovery tools are freely available.
Do you take fridges and freezers?
Please ask first. Fridges and freezers that contain ozone-depleting foam or coolants are classed as hazardous, so they need a suitable route. Send photos or a list of the models before booking, and we will tell you whether we can take them and what paperwork will be issued.