WEEE – Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

The WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive is a European Union initiative that designates the safe and responsible collection, recycling and recovery of all types of electric and electronic waste. It covers any equipment with a plug or a battery.

In the UK, it was first implemented by means of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006, which were then replaced by the WEEE Regulations 2013. The WEEE Regulations have become retained UK law after the UK left the European Union. 

The WEEE directive is a European law that imposes obligations on all EU member states and, by means of the WEEE Regulations, on the UK, with the aim of minimising the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment. As part of the WEEE Directive, the WEEE Regulations requires a high level of collection (including separate collection) of WEEE for treatment, recovery, and environmentally sound disposal, so that the amount of WEEE going into landfill is reduced dramatically.

All manufacturers like Dyson are responsible for the disposal of end-of-life electrical goods in an environmentally friendly way.

The WEEE Regulations 2006 came into effect in the UK on 1st July 2007. The WEEE Directive had been phased into other European countries over the previous two years or so.

The updated EU WEEE Directive 2012 was introduced and applied in the UK by means of the WEEE Regulations 2013.

Over our lifetime each one of us throws away an average of 3.3 tonnes of electrical goods. To preserve our environment, we need to look at ways of becoming more sustainable.

We know environmental stewardship is vital to the long-term sustainable growth of Dyson, through the protection of our employees, the people working within our supply chains, and the localities we operate in. Dyson’s policy is to conduct all our business in a legal, ethical and responsible way.

Electrical and electronic equipment is now the fastest growing waste stream in the UK and across the world. Recycling and reusing unwanted electrical or electronics can help save the planet, boost the economy, and improve lives. Not only that, electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) can contain materials, parts and substances which can be dangerous to the environment and harmful to human health if not disposed of correctly. Discover the impact of reusing and recycling your electricals here.

To recycle your old machine, you can bring it in to a Dyson Demo store or Dyson Demo Zone within 28 days of purchase of your new Dyson machine, show us the receipt or order confirmation email, and it can be recycled free of charge. The machine being returned must be of similar type or have performed the same function as the new item being purchased. 

You can also recycle your old machine by dropping it off at your nearest recycling point at your convenience. You can find nearby locations here.

To recycle an old battery, you can drop it off at a Dyson Demo store or Dyson Demo Zone. You can also recycle your old battery by dropping it off at your nearest recycling point at your convenience. You can find nearby locations here.

At our stores, we will collect any type of sealed battery that can be carried without difficulty by the average person, including AA, AAA, 9v batteries and rechargeable batteries and accumulators from cordless vacuum cleaners and other electric or electronic appliances. We cannot, however, collect motorbike batteries or batteries from industrial equipment.

If your battery is not fully sealed or has been damaged, we may not be able to collect it due to health and safety hazards. We will then direct you to the nearest recycling point, where you can dispose of it safely.