Written question WQ93665
- Asked by
- Rhys ab OwenIndependent
- To be answered by
- Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
How is Natural Resources Wales ensuring that waste from electrical and electronic equipment is being disposed of in an eco-friendly and safe way, and in a way that discourages households and companies from breaching regulations?
Answer
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 require producers of electrical and electronic equipment to offer free of charge take-back in store or to join a distributor take-back scheme to support the return and recycling of these waste materials. Retailers must also take-back all items of ‘very small WEEE’ in store if their electrical and electronic equipment sales area is greater than 400 square metres.
Companies recycling and treating electrical and electronic equipment also need to comply with the WEEE Regulations to ensure that relevant equipment is recycled properly. Anyone producing waste - including electrical and electronic equipment - has a duty of care to ensure that whoever is handling or treating waste has the appropriate authorisation in place to transport, store, treat or dispose of the waste.
The Welsh Government provides grant funding to Natural Resources Wales under the WEEE Regulations to identify and take appropriate action against those not complying with the regulations.