Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
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. You must have the relevant permit, licence or exemption before you carry out this activity.
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:
You do not need to register an exemption for storing WEEE if you are:
NIEA: Paragraph 50 Exemption – The secure storage of waste electrical and electronic equipment WEEE
SEPA: Waste management licensing exemptions
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:
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
SEPA: Waste management licensing exemptions
If your business repairs or refurbishes certain WEEE you may be able to register an exemption from waste management licensing.
In Northern Ireland you can register for an exemption if you:
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 you can register for an exemption if you:
SEPA 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. There is no renewal fee.
SEPA: Waste management licensing exemptions
If you want to treat 2 tonnes of WEEE or more per day you will need a PPC permit or a waste management licence.
GOV.UK: WEEE: Evidence and national protocols guidance
Businesses affected by the WEEE Regulations
Equipment covered by the WEEE Regulations
Producers of electrical and electronic equipment – What you must do
Distributors of electrical and electronic equipment – What you must do
Users of electrical and electronic equipment – What you must do
Repairing, refurbishing and storing WEEE
Groundwater in Northern Ireland, DAERA have produced a leaflet to raise awareness about this untapped resource
EU Exit, EU Exit useful information
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