Repairing, refurbishing and storing WEEE
What you must do
If you repair or refurbish waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) you may need:
- a pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit, waste management licence or a registered waste exemption, in Northern Ireland
- an EASR authorisation, in Scotland
You must have the relevant authorisation before you carry out this activity.
Storing WEEE for reuse, treatment or recovery elsewhere
In Northern Ireland, you can register an exemption from waste management licensing to collect and store up to 80 cubic metres of each of several types of WEEE for up to three months before it is taken for recovery somewhere else. If you are storing fluorescent tubes the limit is 50 cubic metres. You must:
- store it securely to avoid damage that may prevent its reuse or treatment
- use a storage site with an appropriate weatherproof covering and impermeable surfaces, with a bund where necessary to stop hazardous substances from escaping
- comply with the conditions of your exemption.
You do not need to register an exemption for storing WEEE if you are:
- a retailer taking part in an in-store take-back scheme for household WEEE
- a business storing WEEE that you have produced.
NIEA: Paragraph 50 Exemption – The secure storage of waste electrical and electronic equipment WEEE
In Scotland, you will need an EASR registration to store and treat, 35 tonnes or less of Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) at any one time for the purposes of repairing, refurbishing, or dismantling.
If you temporarily store waste at a collection point you will be considered authorised if you follow the rules of the General Binding Rules (GBRs) for the temporary storage of waste at a collection point.
Crushing waste fluorescent tubes
In Northern Ireland, if you crush fluorescent tubes before they are collected for recovery you may be able to register an exemption from waste management licensing if you:
- crush up to 3 tonnes of waste in 24 hours
- make sure the mercury concentration in emissions does not exceed 50 microgrammes per cubic metre
- store the waste glass and mercury in secure containers under weatherproof covering.
You must register this waste exemption with your environmental regulator. In Northern Ireland you will need to renew the exemption every 12 months.
NIEA: Paragraph 51 - The crushing of gas discharge lamps
In Scotland, if you crush waste gas discharge lamps, you will be considered authorised if you follow the rules of the General Binding Rule (GBR) for the temporary storage of waste at a collection point.
Repairing and refurbishing WEEE
If your business repairs or refurbishes certain WEEE you will need an authorisation from your environmental regulator.
In Northern Ireland you can register for an exemption if you:
- handle up to 5 tonnes of WEEE per day
- store up to 80 cubic metres of WEEE, and no waste is stored for longer than 12 months
- store dismantled parts carefully to prevent damage
- store the components safely under waterproof covering and on impermeable surfaces
- store hazardous waste in suitable containers.
The NIEA will need to inspect your business premises. They will charge you a fee to cover this cost.
You will need to renew your registration every year. The renewal fee is less than the registration fee.
NIEA: Paragraph 49 Exemption – The repair, refurbishment and storage of WEEE
If you want to treat 5 tonnes of WEEE or more per day you will need a PPC permit or a waste management licence.
In Scotland, if you repair or refurbish WEEE, you will need an EASR registration.
You will need and EASR registration If you store and treat 35 tonnes, or less of WEEE at any one time by repairing, refurbishing, or dismantling it for the purpose of:
- reusing the WEEE for its original purpose
- reusing any dismantled components for their original purpose, or
- manually dismantling WEEE for the purpose of recovery elsewhere
SEPA: Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) less than or equal to 35 tonnes
If you deal with larger quantities of WEEE, or cannot meet the standard conditions of the registration, you will need an EASR permit.
Further information
GOV.UK: WEEE: Evidence and national protocols guidance