Guidance

Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) covered by the WEEE Regulations

Updated 2 August 2023

EEE producers must help protect natural resources and manage waste EEE in the best way for people and the environment.

Use this guidance to:

• work out if the EEE you produce is covered by the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) regulations
• correctly identify the EEE products you must report to your environmental regulator
• find out how to report the weight of EEE you put on the market each compliance year

If you have an item that you need help to categorise, please contact your compliance scheme or regulator.

See details on how to register as an EEE producer annually.

Definition of EEE

EEE means equipment:

• which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields to work properly
• for generating, transferring and measuring these currents and fields
• designed for use with a voltage rating 1,000 volts or less for alternating current, and 1,500 volts or less for direct current

‘Dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields to work properly’ means that the equipment needs electric currents or electromagnetic fields (not petrol or gas) to fulfil its basic function. So when the electric current is off, the equipment cannot fulfil its basic function.

Where electrical energy is only used for support or control functions, the equipment is not covered by the regulations. Equipment that only needs a spark to start it (electronic ignition) and does not need electricity to fulfil its basic function includes:

• petrol lawn mowers
• gas stoves

Electrical or electronic versions of standard products such as electric toothbrushes and electric suitcases are EEE products.

Products that are not connected to a mains supply may still be EEE. They can be wind-up, battery-powered and solar-powered products.

Where a product has several functions and only one needs an electrical current, the product may still be EEE.

Check if you are placing EEE on the market

If you place EEE on the market you must report the amount you place on the market. See Report the amount of EEE you place on the market.

Check if the product is EEE

You can:

• review the advisory list in schedule 2 of the WEEE regulations
• see which products the environmental regulators consider to be EEE

Check if the product is exempt

Exempt products are:

• items that protect the country’s security such as arms, munitions and items only for military use
• a piece of equipment that’s designed for and installed in another type of equipment – they can only function within that product, for example a built-in satellite navigation system installed into cars, boats or aeroplanes
• filament bulbs apart from LED filament bulbs which are not exempt

Products that can be used for both military and civil purposes, such as laptops or keyboards, are EEE products.

Check if the product is excluded

Excluded products are:

• equipment designed to be sent into space
• large scale stationary industrial tools
• large scale fixed installations
• transport for persons or goods, excluding electric 2 wheeled vehicles which are not type-approved
• off-road mobile machinery only for professional use
• equipment designed only for research and development use and only available via business to business (B2B)
• implantable medical devices
• medical devices that are expected to be infective at end-of-life

You can find more detailed information in the European Commission WEEE frequently asked questions (FAQs) document.

Large scale fixed installations

A large scale fixed installation such as an oil platform, airport luggage transport system or elevator is not an EEE product.

Find detailed information on how to assess whether a product is large scale on page 12 in the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) FAQs document. Only refer to the specific criteria for large scale – the rest of the document does not apply to EEE.

Equipment that’s not specifically designed for and is not integral to the installation, and which can carry out its basic function in its own right, is an EEE product. For example, lighting equipment, photovoltaic (PV) panels and display screens.

Components and consumables

Components and sub-assemblies supplied to a business for building a finished product are not EEE products. For example, wiring, circuit boards or electric motors built into a washing machine, or information and communications technology products.

Items that are finished products and are put on the market for the end user are EEE products.

Spare parts supplied for the repair of a finished product are not EEE products.

Packaging, instructions and consumables, such as dishwasher tablets supplied with a dishwasher or a music book supplied with an electronic keyboard, are not EEE products.

Toner and ink cartridges with an electronic chip are EEE products.

Accessories

Non-electrical accessories are defined in article 2 (a) of the WEEE Directive – they are not EEE products. For example:

• a protective case supplied with a power tool
• a plastic jug with an iron
• scissors and comb in an electric shaver set

If the non-electrical item is needed for the product to operate as described, the item is not an accessory and you must include it in the weight of the EEE product. For example:

• fridge shelves
• vacuum cleaner hoses
• microwave oven glass plates
• television stands

An accessory which can function with more than one product is an EEE product. For example, headphones, computer keyboards and aerial cables which can operate with a TV or a MP3 player.

Batteries in EEE

If you put products containing batteries on the UK market, you need to report the weight of the EEE minus the weight of the batteries. The weight of the batteries must be reported by the relevant producer under the waste battery regulations.

Choose the most appropriate category for your product

For each compliance year you must report products you put on the market in one of these 14 categories:

Household and non-household products

Categories 1 and 2 include ‘household’ in the title. However, all the categories cover both household (known as business to consumer – B2C) and non-household (known as business to business – B2B) products. Products designed for one or the other but which can be used by both are known as ‘dual use’. Dual use is classed as household EEE and you must report their weight.

Find out how to correctly identify B2C and B2B WEEE.

Environmental regulators’ decisions on EEE products

See how the environmental regulators have interpreted the regulations for specific products they’ve been asked about. This advice is not legally binding and may change if circumstances and understanding changes.

Category 1: large household appliances

The following are EEE products:

• air conditioning unit – if within a household or business system (units built into non-EEE, such as a lorry or boat are exempt) – if the unit contains substances used for refrigeration report as category 12
• air curtains
• air filtering and extracting systems – electrically powered filters, fan systems and extractors, including those built into or attached to a building – if the unit is built into non-EEE such as a lorry or boat, it’s exempt
• cooker hood
• furniture that needs electricity to work properly, such as office furniture, for example a desk with speakers, display screen or integrated smart features – does not include electrical upholstered domestic seating (see Non-EEE product examples). Report electrical items that are plug and play or retrofit separately (see also category 8)
• gas boiler – where they rely on electricity to work properly
• gas cooker – if it will work as a gas cooker without electricity, such as one with a clock or igniter powered by electricity, it’s not an EEE product – if it needs electricity to work properly, for example to control the burners, it’s an EEE product
• spa baths, hydrotherapy baths and computerised massage baths
• sunbeds – report fluorescent bulbs under category 13
• stairlifts
• under floor heating systems powered by electricity
• water coolers (bottle or mains supply) – if it contains refrigerants, report under category 12

Category 2: small household appliances

The following are EEE products:

• air fresheners and perfume sprayers – includes plug-in or battery powered
• extension cords, multi-terminals, adaptors and extension leads – if sold as part of a specific product, report under the product’s category
• electric ironing board – with specific electronic functionality
• electric shower – electric pumps and control units supplied as part of a shower package are EEE products
• loft ladders with electronic controls
• massage appliances, for example massage pads that fit onto chairs
• roller screens with electronic winders
• sockets, switches, dimmers and plugs
• taps with extra functions, such as sensors or safety features
• torches and bike lights – includes filament bulbs and LED torches
• travel adaptors which enable any UK electrical appliance to be plugged into an electrical socket in another country

Category 3: IT and telecommunications equipment

The following are EEE products:

• car diagnostic equipment – equipment plugged into a car’s central processing unit to diagnose and record faults
• cards with chips – for example, set top box cards and cards that need electronic or electromagnetic fields to work, such as pre-paid Oyster and travel cards (not bank cards)
• HDMI cables
• memory cards, USB sticks and SIM cards
• power packs and power banks – rechargeable power banks or single use batteries that provide a portable power supply for electronic devices – used to recharge mobile smart phones or tablets when mains power is unavailable (deduct the weight of the internal battery from the overall weight of the power bank unit)
• printer cartridges that need electric currents or electromagnetic fields to work – exclude the ink from the weight you report
• radio frequency identification devices (RFID) – includes radio tracking devices, anti-theft devices and electronic tags for criminals (a RFID security feature that forms part of the product’s packaging is not an EEE product)
• satellite navigation (sat nav) systems – sat navs are EEE products – those permanently wired and fixed into a vehicle or yacht are part of the vehicle and are not EEE products
• smart mirrors with integral displays and WiFi or bluetooth technology
• touch screens that have integral computers, such as e-readers, tablet computers and patient check-in systems
• USB memory sticks and drives

Category 4: consumer equipment

The following are EEE products:

• aerials, antennas and digital TV dishes
• baby monitors
• in car entertainment – units that are not permanently installed in the car are EEE products – units purchased separately and permanently wired into the car, and will remain so until sold or scrapped, are not EEE products
• security systems including CCTV with motion sensors, video or stills camera and display equipment integrated into the system (classed as equipment for recording or reproducing sound or images) – individual items not integral to the system may need to be reported in a different category, such as a display monitor in category 11
• set top boxes
• single-use cameras – classify as B2B – they’re usually returned to a film processor for recycling or disposal

Category 5: lighting equipment

The following are EEE products (including those with a fully integrated LED light source):

• ceiling rose with flex and lamp holder
• decorative lighting chains and other decorative luminaires
• household luminaires – including table, wall, ceiling, garden and other light fittings – include lampshades when sold with the luminaire
• illuminated emergency exit signs
• luminaires with movement detectors
• mirror with integral lamps and light fittings, for example theatre mirrors
• street lights – where parts are put on the market separately only the lantern, wiring and control box are EEE products, not the concrete or steel posts – report the lamp in category 13
• trailer light boards – detachable lights for caravans and trailers

Category 6: electrical and electronic tools (except large scale stationary industrial tools)

The following are EEE products:

• electric fences
• pumps, filters and fountains for garden ponds – pumps that rely on electricity to function
• wind turbines – small scale use such as by a householder, on a smallholding or at the roadside – large scale wind turbines are exempt (they are fixed installations)

Category 7: toys, leisure and sports equipment

The following are EEE products:

• clothing where it includes a fundamental feature which needs electricity to function, such as a gym top with a heart rate monitor, heated walking jacket or a hat with integral speakers
• e-cigarettes
• electric bicycles – these are not covered under the ‘means of transport for persons or goods’ exclusion unless they are ‘type approved’ – for details see European Commission guidance
• fish tanks – report the whole weight of a tank with a light, heater or pump supplied as a single unit
• games consoles – report in this category even if they have extra functions like a DVD player
• gym equipment – report the whole weight of the product

Category 8: medical devices (except implanted and infected products)

The following are EEE products:

• blood glucose meters or testers
• furniture designed to help mobility, such as hospital beds and riser chairs with movement controls that need electricity to function
• hearing aids
• x-ray machines used in hospitals

Category 9: monitoring and control equipment

The following are EEE products:

• car park and traffic management electric barriers
• fire alarm systems that rely on electricity – includes smoke detectors, alarm bells, lighting and sprinklers
• electric vehicle charging points with monitoring or other smart features – report basic charge points as category 10
• electricity distribution equipment that is a finished product, such as fuse boxes, consumer units and circuit breakers
• energy management systems – including sensors and displays
• loadbanks (testing systems for electric power supplies)
• PV inverters – small to medium installations, including micro-inverters (you must report as B2C if they can be used for households or commercially
• smart meters – report electricity meters as B2B and ‘add on’ meters or monitors for householders to manage their energy consumption as B2C
• thermostats and time switches
• traffic lights – temporary and mobile systems are EEE products (when put on the market as a single product) – for installed fixed systems (where parts are placed on the market separately) only the lighting and control equipment are EEE products, not the steel posts
• x-ray machines installed in airports

Category 10: automatic dispensers

The following are EEE products:

• electric vehicle charge points with basic charging only
• photo booths – normally you should report as B2B

Category 11: display equipment

The following are EEE products:

• screens – includes all TV screens such as cathode ray tube (CRT) plasma screens, liquid crystal display (LCD) and separate computer screens – report display screens integral to other products in their category, for example laptops and mobile phones, in category 3, MP3 players in category 4
• screens used for advertising or showing information

Category 12: appliances containing refrigerants

The following are EEE products:

• boilers containing refrigerants
• fridges using ammonia (except if designed and installed in a non-EEE product, such as a boat or caravan)
• furniture with an integral fridge – this will require treating as a cooling appliance
• heat pump tumble dryer

Category 13: gas discharge lamps and LED light sources

The following are EEE products:

• laser lamps – fitted into products for use in professional medical, cosmetic and engineering industries, for example, to weld, engrave or cut – report as B2B
• LED filament lamps
• LED lamps and modules – when put on the market as an individual item as a replacement (to maintain or upgrade)
• LED tape and strips – when placed on the market for end users
• multi-functional lamps with WiFi booster, movement sensor or speakers
• smart lamps – if they can be programmed, for example to change colour

Category 14: PV panels (solar panels)

All PV panels are EEE products. Because PV panels are of a generic size and design they must be reported as household (B2C) regardless of where they’re installed. It includes panels used in large scale solar farm installations or on commercial premises. The Environment Agency does not class solar farms as large scale fixed installations.

Report other solar powered items under their own category. Examples include calculators, watches, garden pumps and phone chargers.

Non-EEE product examples

Other products we consider ‘out of scope’ are:

• bank cards with electronic chips and personal data
• clothing with novelty lights or sound (or both) – they can still work properly as clothing without the electrical functions
• clothing or textiles where the electrical part can be removed before cleaning, for example pillow speakers or ear phones in a cap – for these report the weight of the electrical part only
• e-cigarette refills, if there are no electrical functions or parts
• furniture with a USB charging point
• musical greetings cards – they function as a greetings card without electricity, but the battery needs declaring under the waste battery regulations
• novelty items with a single LED, for example a birthday badge, cake cutter or flashing hat
• play tents or toys with fairy lights – if the light string is removable, report the weight of the electrical part only
• reels of cable – cable that has unfinished ends is ‘out of scope’
• taps with decorative lights or those powered by a dynamo (or both)
• water filter jugs with an indicator display

Waste upholstered domestic seating

The Environment Agency considers any waste upholstered domestic seating that is electrical, such as recliner chairs, as outside the scope of the WEEE Regulations 2013 (as amended). These contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and must be managed as explained in the guidance Manage waste upholstered domestic seating containing POPs.