New phase of the WEEE Distributor Takeback Scheme

The Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) is an initiative that allows retailers of household electricals to meet its distributor obligations under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations.

Distributors pay a fee to be part of the DTS and the funds go towards supporting the household waste recycling centres run by local authorities to help increase WEEE collections.

The DTS is an alternative to providing physical takeback of WEEE.

Who can use the DTS?

• Retailers with physical stores who sell less than £100,000 of EEE per year
• Retailers only selling online
• Distance sellers who have a physical location.  This is on a voluntary basis (in addition to providing takeback at that physical location) to demonstrate effective participation in a WEEE collection system to online/distance customers.

Who cannot use the DTS?

• Retailers with physical stores who sell £100,000 or more of EEE per year.  They must provide their own take-back mechanism
• Retailers above the £100,000 threshold who have a mixture of online and physical sales will have take-back obligations
• From 1^st January 2024, retailers selling vapes. All stores selling vapes are required to provide in-store takeback for customers buying vapes if those retailers sell other electricals where they fall below the £100,000 threshold, they can use the DTS in relation to those other electricals.

What are the recent updates regarding the DTS?

Defra have confirmed the next phase of the Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) is 1st Jan 2024 to 31st Dec 2026.

Defra also provided the following caveats to the DTS;

1. From 1st January 2024, all stores selling vapes must provide in-store takeback for customers buying vapes. If those retailers sell other electricals where they fall below the £100,000 threshold, they can use the DTS in relation to those other electricals.
2. Retailers who sell more than £100,000 of EEE per year across all of its stores, must provide in-store take back.  This means the £100,000 threshold is not applied on a store-by-store basis.

For further information on the retailer and distributor responsibilities for electricals, please refer to the Government guidance here.

Author: Jessica Dunlop, Membership Compliance Manager, ERP UK Ltd

How can ERP UK help?

If you take back WEEE and need help arranging the appropriate collection and recycling, please contact ukoperations@erp-recycling.org.

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If you would like to leave us a message with an inquiry please visit our WEEE compliance webpage here.

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Visit our Takeback webpage here.

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