What are the obligations for distributors?

Under the WEEE regulations, distributors must offer free take-back to consumers on like for like sales, regardless of whether this is done in store, online or by mail order.

Retailers with a floor space that is greater than 400 square metres must also provide free take-back to consumers on any item with any dimension greater than 25cm.

Where a take back WEEE service is offered, relevant documentation of WEEE returned must be retained for at least four years.

Where a take back WEEE service is not offered, retailers must pay to join a Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) and direct end users to their local authority recycling centres.

Distributors must also provide customers access to written information on the service provided, what they should do with their WEEE and the meaning of the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol.