The term WEEE is the acronym for Waste from Electric and Electronic Equipment. 

According to the Royal Decree 110/2015 of 20th February regarding waste from electric and electronic equipment, by “waste from electric and electronic equipment” or WEEE we understand all electric and electronic equipment which becomes waste under the definition that appears in Article 3.a of the Law 22/2011 of 28th July.

Similarly, the same Royal Decree defines “electric and electronic equipment” or EEE as all equipment that requires an electric current or electromagnetic fields to function properly, as well as the equipment necessary to generate, transmit and measure such currents and fields, which are intended for use with a rated voltage of no more than 1,000 Volts in alternating current and 1,500 Volts in direct current.

The consumption of electric and electronic equipment, both in businesses and homes, has increased significantly in recent years. When replacing old equipment with new, you may ask yourself: what can I do with equipment I am not going to use anymore? The answer is: see if it can still be reused and, if not, recycle it! 

The good news is that there are authorised companies like E-RECYCLING MURCIA, S.L. responsible for preventing the so-called “electronic waste” from polluting the planet by managing it in the most efficient way and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations. Electronic waste can have a second life!

In this way, we move from a linear economy in which equipment is consumed and discarded, to a circular economy in which equipment is reused and the materials it contains are recycled. Thus, we favour the creation of green jobs and the protection of public health and the environment.

The users of electric and electronic equipment used in their homes have the following options available: 

• Taking it to the distributor or business at the time of purchasing an EEE unit of the same type.
• Taking it to municipal collection points for WEEE.
• Finding an authorised agent in your area and taking it to said place.

When we buy electric and electronic equipment for domestic use, the price of the product already includes the cost of its management when the equipment becomes waste. Therefore, we do not have to pay anything when we take the old equipment to the shop or agent where we acquire the new equipment. Similarly, if we take it to the collection point for WEEE, we do not have to pay to leave it there either.

The recycling of waste from electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) is not only an obligation for the household appliances sector but also an opportunity to offer our clients a better service and improve environmental awareness. There are many reasons for recycling WEEE, but we would highlight these three: 

1. The recycling of electric and electronic equipment allows for the recovery of valuable materials that would otherwise be lost. Some of these are precious metals with a high price whose extraction is hard and has a high environmental impact. Copper, tin, zinc, silver and gold are some of the metals recovered from recycled WEEE. Every kilo of these materials that is recycled can be used to make new electronic equipment of the same quality as if it had been extracted from the earth.

2. Recycling avoids environmental pollution and the recovery of highly polluting elements that are recovered and processed in a safe way, preventing them from ending up in a landfill without any control and seeping into the ground and aquifers. Lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium are some of the most polluting materials collected in electric and electronic equipment recycling plants. If this electric and electronic equipment is not managed correctly, it causes grave damage to the environment.

3. Our clients have a greater environmental awareness. However, recycling is usually a complex task and is often not done correctly. Offering clients the security that their old electric equipment is going to be treated correctly is a guarantee and a highly valued customer service. We have collection bins available in our stores for small appliances and batteries, hence making us a benchmark in the correct recycling of WEEE.

The recycling of WEEE is not only a legal obligation, but also a very interesting social and commercial activity for our establishments, so that they can be a benchmark for buyers.