What we cover

Streams – WEEE

WEEE – Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Modern electronics are made of rare and expensive resources, which can be recycled and reused if the waste is effectively managed, saving raw materials.

From big to small, ear buds to IT, when devices reach their end-of-life they are considered Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). WEEE contains a complex mixture of materials, some of which are hazardous, which can cause major environmental and health problems if the discarded devices are not managed properly.

Improving the collection, treatment, and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) at the end of their life can

• improve sustainable
• production and consumption
• increase resource efficiency
• contribute to the circular economy

Recycling

What happens to your waste?

We believe recycling should be simple.

However, with so many types of products and materials it’s not always easy to distinguish what is recyclable from what isn’t.

To help simplify things, we’ve assembled an interactive guide of what you can recycle, with some general information about what happens during recycling and what can be reused.

Learn about the recycling process by selecting the icons below.

Large domestic appliances

Washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, ovens.

The first stage of recycling is decontamination: cables and other electrical components are removed; ballasts, plastics, iron compounds and other metals are separated and recovered. These materials are then sent for further processing and recovery.

Recycling process

1. Pre-shedding decontamination

2. Shredding

3. Separation

Recovered materials