WEEE directives now underway

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations were implemented on Sunday (1st July), meaning UK firms will be obliged by law to recycle and properly dispose of particular electrical office supplies.

Reports suggest last year alone two million tonnes of electrical waste, such as printer supplies and office supplies, was generated in the UK – enough to fill Wembley Stadium six times over.

Under the WEEE directive, manufacturers, importers and retailers of domestic appliances, office equipment, office supplies and other goods have to ensure they dispose of the old products in accordance with the law.

Businesses and household consumers will able to take back old products to stores selling electrical goods.

"Putting the responsibility on the electrical industry will mean the eventual recycling of products being considered at the design stage, it will incentivise the industry to provide consumers with more options for returning old products, it will encourage the reuse of products and it will help create a valuable market in recycled materials," said a Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform statement.

The government hopes that awareness-raising among its existing and new producers will encourage more firms to fulfil their WEEE responsibilities, in a move that is set to benefit the office supplies industry, as well as the environment.

At Paperstone we can supply your firm with a wide selection of office supplies.