Ask SmartPlanet: what does WEEE mean for me?

Dear SmartPlanet, What exactly does the WEEE law mean for me as an individual? Kiera, St Ives, UK

In short, not a lot. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive (to give it the full, snappy moniker) is mainly aimed at shops and gadget-makers rather than individuals.

As a 'householder', you still have no legal obligation to recycle your electronic junk and, if a perverse urge takes you to chuck old tellies in wheelie bins, the boys in blue won't be busting your door down in the early hours.

Consider for a second, though, how much e-waste we chuck away each year. As a nation, we annually dump over 1 million tonnes of fridges, hairdryers, computers and other devices, potentially leaching dangerous toxins into soil and water systems via landfill. Each of us creates 3.3 tonnes -- that's a whole lotta old Nokias -- of electronic waste in our lifetime.

To encourage you to recycle your e-waste, the government has put together this document. As you'll see, when you buy any electrical gadget from a shop, it should offer to take back your old equivalent. Buy a new kettle at Currys, then, and they should take your old kettle and get it recycled. Note the 'should' -- they might also point you in the direction of your local dump (find your nearest one with this Bank Locator).

Alternatively, get your council to recycle your old electronic dinosaurs. Thanks to the law, your council has to collect your WEEE if you ask -- but they can charge you for the pleasure.

Do you have a green shopping dilemma? Want an eco debate settled? Or want to know what a environmental buzzword really means? Email us on green@smartplanet.com and we'll do out best to help out in an upcoming Ask SmartPlanet.

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