Overview

Producer Responsibility has nothing to do with a business’ own waste although the WEEE Regulations do give business end users some rights of collection. It is all about quantifying what you place onto the market and paying towards its environmental disposal at the end of its life.

1. If your company or group of companies:

• Had a turnover above £2m in your most recent year of trading and
• Handled more than 50 tonnes of packaging during the last calendar year (manufactured, converted or filled packaging and/or imported or sold products in packaging which in total added up to more than 50 tonnes)

it is likely you should be registered under the Packaging Waste Regulations. (See Prosecutions for those companies recently prosecuted for not registering)

2. If your company

• Places products into packaging

You must comply with the Essential Requirements legislation to ensure excessive packaging is not being used.

3. If your company, regardless of size

• Manufactures, imports or sells under own label any type of electrical or electronic product

It is likely you should be registered under the WEEE Regulations

• If you are a shop or on-line seller selling electrical products of any sort or quantity to household users, you also have responsibilities under the WEEE Regulations

4. If your company, regardless of size

• Places portable dry cell batteries - either separately or in products - onto the UK market (generally as an importer, but not if you import for own use)
• Sells either more than 32kgs of portable dry cell batteries a year
• Places automotive or industrial batteries onto the UK market

It is likely the Batteries Regulations will place responsibilities on you and you should keep track of developments.