WEEE Ireland, The Irish Compliance Scheme for Electrical and Battery Recycling

WEEE

WEEE includes anything that uses a battery or has a plug. It primarily covers temperature exchange equipment, screens, lamps, large equipment, small equipment and small IT equipment. Some examples are listed below:
 

• Temperature exchange equipment – Fridges, freezers, etc.
• Screens – Televisions, monitors, etc.
• Lamps – Fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), etc.
• Large equipment – Washing machines, ovens, etc.
• Small equipment – Kettles, toasters, etc.
• Small IT equipment – Desktop computers, printers, etc.

Safety concerns Associated with WEEE

Some key safety concerns associated with WEEE are as follows:

• WEEE is sometimes heavy and could pose an injury risk if it were to fall or if it is lifted incorrectly.
• WEEE could have sharp edges which could give rise to injury.
• Removal of WEEE or components thereof from collection sites could bring about a number of safety issues and should be avoided.
• Refrigerant media typically found in fridges, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, etc. could leak from the appliance if damaged and cause skin or eye irritation as a result of direct contact with the rapidly evaporating refrigerant. There is also a risk of the formation of harmful atmospheres where temperature exchange equipment is stored in an enclosed space.

Recommended Precautions

A number of precautions should be taken when storing or accessing the storage location for WEEE:

• Ensure that there is safe access to the stored waste. It should not be necessary to climb over or around stored waste.
• WEEE should adequately be secured against intruders.
• All WEEE should be stored on a flat, hard, impermeable surface and weather-proofed as appropriate.
• Where WEEE is stacked, this should be done carefully making sure that the stacked material will not collapse or fall.
• Suitable PPE should be used when handling all WEEE and in particular when handling temperature exchange equipment. Care should be taken to avoid direct contact with refrigerant media.
• Temperature exchange equipment such as fridges, freezers, etc. should be stored in a well ventilated area to minimise the risk of the formation of harmful atmospheres.