Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

All departments have a duty of care when disposing of any waste material, including WEEE.  Further information is available at http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/seps/waste/#d.en.38775

For equipment purchased after 13 August 2005 or if purchasing another piece of equipment as a 'like for like' replacement, the initial producer (not supplier) has a duty to finance and ensure its environmentally sound disposal, even if the equipment you are replacing was made by another producer.  This does not mean that they will uplift and transport it to disposal free of charge although this option should always be explored when making significant purchases. The Purchasing Office may be able to offer advice where the supplier or manufacturer involved is an approved supplier to the University having completed a competitive tendering exercise.  For equipment purchased prior to 13 August 2005 (known as 'Historic WEEE'), where no 'like for like' replacement is being purchased, the entire responsibility falls on the department.  Guidance is available at http://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/environmentalissues/wasteandrecycling/.

In many cases the equipment is a low value item (eg desk lamp, vortex mixer, kettle), purchased through a supplier and not directly from the producer.  In these cases, even if the environmentally sound disposal would be the responsibility of the producer, it is often not economically sensible for the University to track down the producer, determine how the equipment might be disposed through their scheme and transport it to that scheme.  To address this, the University has put in place arrangements to assist departments to comply with their duty when they decide to take responsibility for disposal of equipment that has become WEEE.  The types of waste falling under this procedure and their disposal routes are shown below.  There may be a charge for some items.