Retra has welcomed the announcement from Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) that waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) regulations will be extended to overseas online marketplaces.
Circular economy minister Mary Creagh announced on December 10 that: "Electrical equipment like vapes are being sold in the UK by producers who are failing to pay their fair share when recycling and reusing of dealing with old or broken items. Today we're ending this: creating a level playing field for all producers of electronics, to ensure fairness and fund the cost of the treatment of waste electricals.
"As part of our Plan for Change, we are helping UK businesses compete and grow, and we continue to get more households recycling, cracking down on waste and ending the throwaway society."
The WEEE directive, first introduced in 2002 and updated in 2012, covers all items requiring batteries, solar energy, or electrical current to operate. This includes large household appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers, small household appliances, IT equipment, consumer electronics, lighting, tools, toys, and medical devices.
Jeff Moody, commercial director of Retra, said: "This announcement finally creates a level playing field between high street electrical retailers and online marketplaces. Our members have always taken their WEEE obligations seriously, managing take-back schemes and covering disposal costs, while online marketplaces operated under different rules.
"While we strongly support this legislation, we need clarity on how it will be enforced with overseas online marketplaces. These platforms contribute significantly to electrical products entering the UK market, often with shorter lifecycles that lead to increased waste.
"The regulation should encourage more sustainable practices across all retail channels. Many of these online platforms sell lower-quality electronics with shorter lifespans, contributing disproportionately to e-waste. Now they'll need to meet the same standards as high street retailers and participate in take-back schemes," he added.
Under the WEEE directive, producers - including manufacturers, importers, distant-sellers, distributors and retailers - must consider the scope of electrical and electronic equipment when placing products on the market. The new requirements mean online retailers will be responsible for covering the disposal costs of any products they place on the market, matching the obligations high street retailers have managed for years.
"This creates a more comprehensive recycling infrastructure for electrical goods in the UK," added Mr Moody. "It ensures all sellers contribute to responsible disposal, regardless of how they reach their customers, supporting the government's wider environmental goals."
Circular economy minister Mary Creagh announced on December 10 that: "Electrical equipment like vapes are being sold in the UK by producers who are failing to pay their fair share when recycling and reusing of dealing with old or broken items. Today we're ending this: creating a level playing field for all producers of electronics, to ensure fairness and fund the cost of the treatment of waste electricals.
"As part of our Plan for Change, we are helping UK businesses compete and grow, and we continue to get more households recycling, cracking down on waste and ending the throwaway society."
The WEEE directive, first introduced in 2002 and updated in 2012, covers all items requiring batteries, solar energy, or electrical current to operate. This includes large household appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers, small household appliances, IT equipment, consumer electronics, lighting, tools, toys, and medical devices.
Jeff Moody, commercial director of Retra, said: "This announcement finally creates a level playing field between high street electrical retailers and online marketplaces. Our members have always taken their WEEE obligations seriously, managing take-back schemes and covering disposal costs, while online marketplaces operated under different rules.
"While we strongly support this legislation, we need clarity on how it will be enforced with overseas online marketplaces. These platforms contribute significantly to electrical products entering the UK market, often with shorter lifecycles that lead to increased waste.
"The regulation should encourage more sustainable practices across all retail channels. Many of these online platforms sell lower-quality electronics with shorter lifespans, contributing disproportionately to e-waste. Now they'll need to meet the same standards as high street retailers and participate in take-back schemes," he added.
Under the WEEE directive, producers - including manufacturers, importers, distant-sellers, distributors and retailers - must consider the scope of electrical and electronic equipment when placing products on the market. The new requirements mean online retailers will be responsible for covering the disposal costs of any products they place on the market, matching the obligations high street retailers have managed for years.
"This creates a more comprehensive recycling infrastructure for electrical goods in the UK," added Mr Moody. "It ensures all sellers contribute to responsible disposal, regardless of how they reach their customers, supporting the government's wider environmental goals."
