What is the WEEE label?
The symbol indicates that the product should not be discarded as unsorted waste but must be sent to separate collection facilities for recovery and recycling. The WEEE marking must appear on any electrical and electronic equipment placed on the EU market.
Is it mandatory?
With a few exceptions, most electrical and electronic equipment sold in the EU must bear a specific marking. WEEE labels are mandatory for the following product categories:
- temperature exchange equipment, such as fridges and air-conditioning units
- screens, monitors, and equipment containing screens having a surface greater than 100 cm²
- lamps
- large equipment (any external dimension more than 50 cm) such as washing machines, copy machines, rooftop solar panels
- small equipment (external dimension less than 50 cm) such as vacuum cleaners, smoke detectors, clocks and watches
- small IT and telecommunications equipment (no external dimension more than 50 cm)
A detailed list of the appliances that fall under each product category is provided in the annex of the EU directive.
How do you affix the label?
Your electrical and electronic equipment must bear:
- the symbol of the crossed-out wheeled bin
- your identification mark, such as brand name or trademark
If your product has been placed on the market after 13 August 2005, you can either:
- add a bar underneath the crossed-our wheeled bin symbol, or
- specify the date that the product was placed on the market
These inscriptions must be printed on the product itself and should be permanent, clearly visible and readable. The label could be printed on the packaging, the instructions or the warranty leaflet and not on the product itself only if the product’s size is too small or if its function is affected by the marking.
What are the costs related to the WEEE label?
Registration and reporting to the national register are free. However, there are financial obligations related to waste responsibilities, which may vary from one EU country to another.
Waste responsibilities
In addition to registering and affixing the WEEE label, your obligations also extend to the end-of-life phase of your products.
Read more about the registration process and your waste responsibilities for electrical and electronic equipment.
