Q4 UK WEEE Compliance Data for 2023

The Environment Agency published the Q4 2023 UK WEEE data on 1st March 2024.

As projected throughout 2023, the final data for the year confirms that the UK has met the WEEE collection targets in Display Equipment (Cat 11), and Small Mixed WEEE (Categories 2-10), which is the first time since 2016.

EEE placed on the UK market (POM)

The table below demonstrates that in Q4 2023, over 4,000 tonnes more EEE was placed on the UK market when comparing against the same period last year (Q4 2022).

There was a decrease across more or less all categories of EEE other than Large Household Appliances (Cat 1), Small Household Appliances (Cat 2), Electrical and Electronic Tools (Cat 6) and Photovoltaic Panels (Cat 14), which increased by nearly 30%.

Overall, 2023 saw nearly 8,500 tonnes less POM than 2022, with a decline across all categories other than PV panels – please see table below, split by stream:

EEE POM volumes have been in decline since 2021, as demonstrated in the chart below.

The charts below compare EEE POM, by stream, in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

WEEE collected

As the table below demonstrates, the overall collected tonnage in Q4 2023 was similar to that collected in Q4 2022, with just under 2,700 tonnes difference across all streams, mostly due to increased Small Mixed WEEE (Categories 2-10) collections.

Similar to the Q2 and Q3 2023 data, Q4 2023 data indicates just a 2% increase of total volume of WEEE collected when compared to the same period last year. All streams show an increase, especially Small Mixed WEEE (Categories 2-10), by nearly 2,000 tonnes (7%) and Photovoltaic Panels (Cat 14), by 30 tonnes (24%).

Overall, 2023 saw 5,500 tonnes more WEEE collected than in 2022, with a increase across all categories other than Large Household Appliances (Cat 1) – please see table below, split by stream:

WEEE collection volumes have been very similar in the last two years, but still well down on the volumes being collected pre-2020 (COVID Pandemic) and 2021, as demonstrated in the chart below:

The charts below compare WEEE collections, by stream, in 2021, 2022 and 2023. LHA (Cat 1) collections are in decline, whilst Display (Cat 11) and Small Mixed WEEE (Categories 2-10), are increasing:

Outlook for the compliance year (2023)

When looking at the final 2023 collection volumes against the collection targets for 2023, as expected, Display Equipment (Cat 11), Cats 2-10 (SMW) and Photovoltaic Panels (Cat 14) have achieved the targets, whilst Cooling Appliances (Cat 12) and Lamps (Cat 13) didn’t quite make it, and LHA was short by 3%.

Cooling Appliances (Cat 12) collections increased in Q3 and Q4 2023 (Cooling was at 48% after Q2), and therefore recovered well.

It’s worth noting that 2023 is the first time that the overall collection targets have been met since 2016:

And it’s the first time that Small Mixed WEEE (Categories 2-10) has achieved the collection target since 2015:

Outlook for the compliance year (2024)

Defra have proposed collection targets for 2024 to stakeholders for a short consultation.

Defra’s approach was slightly different to that of previous years – rather than using a six-year trend forecast to identify the total tonnage for collection of each individual category of WEEE, Defra have used a baseline approach that considers the growth rate in WEEE collections over a 3-year period – using an average of the growth rate between 2021/22 and 2022/23. Applying a 6-year forecast to the 2023 WEEE collection figures results in negative average growth rates being applied to most categories of WEEE, which would not reflect the growth seen in WEEE collections since 2022 and 2023.

ERP prepared its own analysis and made a detailed response to the consultation. In the past, we have raised concerns about the proposed targets for streams, particularly Small Mixed WEEE, which have often been set well in excess of the actual amounts likely to be collected.  However, with WEEE collections above targets for 2023 in several streams, we feel that overall Defra have got the 2024 targets about right.

Author: Steve Smith, Compliance & Quality Manager, ERP UK

Want to know more about our compliance services 

Visit our WEEE compliance webpage here:

Visit our Batteries compliance webpage here:

Alternatively you can contact us directly on:

Telephone: +44 (0)20 3142 6452 E-mail: uk@erp-recycling.org

Follow ERP UK on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/erp-uk-ltd/

Landbell Group

ERP is part of the Landbell Group – the leading global supplier of environmental and chemical compliance solutions.

Find out more at: www.landbell-group.com