Q1 UK WEEE Compliance Data for 2026

Q1 UK WEEE Data for 2026: The Environment Agency published the Q1 2026 UK WEEE data on 1^st June 2026. The data shows that EEE POM volumes are increasing and the highest they’ve been in quarter one (impact of OMPs), whilst the collection data also shows growth in Q1 2026 but shows that most WEEE streams are falling slightly short of the UK targets after quarter 1.

EEE placed on the UK market (POM)

The table below demonstrates that over 12,460 tonnes more EEE was placed on the UK market (POM) in Q1 2026 when comparing against the same period last year (Q1 2025).

There were significant increases across the Small Mixed WEEE categories (2-10) in Q1 2026 compared with Q1 2025; Small Household Appliances (Category 2), IT and Telecomms Equipment (Category 3), Consumer Equipment (Category 4), Lighting Equipment (Category 5) and Toys, Leisure and Sports (Category 7) all saw significant increases from Q1 2025,

Overall, the Small Mixed WEEE categories (Categories 2-10) increased by 20% (over 25,400 tonnes). The increase in the Small Mixed WEEE categories is a result of online marketplaces (OMPs) now required to report the EEE POM for non-UK sellers on their platform. In 2025, the Environment Agency advised that over 51,700 tonnes of Small Mixed WEEE categories (2-10) were reported via OMPs from 12th August 2025 to 31^st December (approximately 11,500 tonnes per month). The increase seen in Q1 2026 (25,400 tonnes) is perhaps slightly less than expected – likely a result of seasonal sales.

The Environment Agency have confirmed that there are some large OMPs that were late to register; whether the Q1 2026 POM data released includes this data is unclear, but the EA have confirmed that obligations for all producers will be adjusted as a result.

There were some streams that decreased in Q1 2026, including Display Equipment (Category 11) which decreased by 17% (over 3,400 tonnes), as did PV Panels (Category 14) which decreased by 18% (over 8,700 tonnes).

Due to the increase in the Small Mixed WEEE categories, the Q1 2026 POM data shows a sharp increase in quarter 1 volumes, and highest Q1 POM volume on record.

The charts below compare the volumes of EEE placed onto the UK market for each stream in quarter 1 over the last four years (2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026).

WEEE collected

As the table below demonstrates, there was an increase overall (4%) between the total collection volumes in Q1 2026 when comparing against Q1 2025, by over 5,400 tonnes.

This overall increase is due to the collections of Large Household Appliances (Category 1), which increased by 6% (over 2,800 tonnes), and the Small Mixed WEEE categories (Categories 2-10), which increased by 10% (over 3,300 tonnes).

The Q1 2025 WEEE collection volumes excluded significant volumes of Large Household Appliances (Category 1) and the Small Mixed WEEE categories (Categories 2-10) due to the delayed AATF approval of a large recycler during Q1 2025.  As some collected WEEE continued to be sent to the facility from HWRCs these volumes were not reported. The impacts of this were seen in: formal investigations by the EA; reduced volumes of LDA and SMW reported; an increased use of the WEEE Compliance Fee; and the need for Defra to allow for the missing volumes when setting the 2026 WEEE targets.  The variance shown above appears to be in line with those missing volumes from Q1 2025.

There was also a large increase in PV Panels (Category 14), which increased by 85%, albeit only 130 tonnes.

Collections of Vapes & E-Cigarettes in the new WEEE category (Category 15) will be reported from 12^th August 2026.

Q1 collection volumes have been steadily increasing over the last few years, and Q1 2026 is the highest quarter one volume collected since Q1 2020.

The charts below compare the volumes of WEEE collected for each stream in quarter 1 over the last four years (2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026).

Outlook for the compliance year

When looking at the Q1 2026 collection volumes against the collection targets for 2026, this demonstrates that only one of the collection streams is currently on track; Large Household Appliances (Category 1).

Cooling Equipment (Category 12), Display Equipment (Category 11), Small Mixed WEEE categories (Categories 2-10) and Gas Discharge Lamps & LED Light Sources (Category 13) have all got some catching up to do over the next few quarters.

Photovoltaic Panels (Category 14) are notoriously variable – being significantly impacted by recycling of panels from solar farm upgrade projects.

Collections of Vapes & E-Cigarettes in the new WEEE category (Category 15) will be reported from 12^th August 2026.

Author Steve Smith, Compliance & Quality Manager, ERP UK

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