Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)

Dealing with hazardous WEEE

Guide

Some waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is classified as hazardous waste. This includes WEEE that contains hazardous components or substances such as:

  • polychlorinated biphenyls - for example in capacitors
  • ozone-depleting substances - for example in fridges and freezers
  • asbestos
  • fluorescent tubes
  • nickel cadmium batteries
  • cathode ray tubes - for example in some televisions and older computer monitors

You must store waste safely and securely to prevent pollution. You must keep different types of hazardous waste separate, and hazardous waste and non-hazardous waste separate.

If you are responsible for disposing of WEEE and it contains hazardous substances you must make sure it is treated at an approved authorised treatment facility that is authorised to accept hazardous waste - find licensed waste sites in Northern Ireland.

See also dealing with hazardous waste.