The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) controls the way old electrical equipment is disposed of, reducing waste and promoting recycling.

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It is designed to:

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• Tighten up the treatment of waste, removing hazardous materials.

• Drive recycling versus waste.

• Make producers accountable for financing the safe disposal of old electrical and electronic equipment.

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All participants in the supply chain are affected:

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• Manufacturers.

• Distributors.

• Fire and Security Companies.

• Facility Management Companies.

• Installers.

• WEEE Processors.

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It is your liability to take WEEE items back

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Smoke detectors are radioactive and must be pre-treated, with the radioactive element removed BEFORE they are disposed of via a WEEE route: 

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• Avoids contamination of waste sites.

• Prevents radioactive materials entering recycled metals.

• Safe disposal is achievable only when radioactives are removed.

• Only once the radioactive element is removed may a WEEE disposal route be used.

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What are the implications for you?

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• There is a legally binding requirement to dispose of smoke detectors safely to an approved disposal facility.

• Pre-treatment is NOT covered by take back schemes, so it is chargeable.

• The radioactive element must be safely removed prior to disposal.

• It is your liability to take WEEE items back and return them to each individual manufacturer or Permitted facility.

  • Individual smoke detector makes and models need to be segregated.

  • Storage facilities must be approved and Permitted due to the radioactive element.

  • Transport of smoke detectors to each individual manufacturer needs to be in accordance with government regulations, in bespoke packaging using approved transport carriers where appropriate.