Workplace WEEE recycling in Wales: What has changed?
Workplaces in Wales are now required to separate unwanted small waste electrical items (sWEEE) for onward recycling, following the change in the Workplace Recycling regulations on 6 April 2026.
sWEEE covers any items with a plug, battery, or cable which measures <50cm on its largest side; for example, laptops, phones, kettles, toasters, hairdryers, or power tools.
This is a change from the previous regulations which only covered unsold sWEEE, and now covers all unwanted or waste electricals.
The reason for the change
Once an item of WEEE ends up in incineration or landfill, any valuable materials, such as gold and copper, are lost, and we only need to turn on the news to see the latest devastating fires caused by putting lithium-ion batteries in the general waste bin.
Around 75% of the materials in WEEE can be recycled, and using recycled materials from WEEE to create new products helps to reduce carbon emissions and resource use compared to virgin materials.
What should you do?
Companies in Wales are encouraged to follow the waste hierarchy and try to first repair or reuse any unwanted items by selling them, donating locally, or passing onto staff.
Where this isn’t possible, electricals should be kept separate from general waste and other recyclable waste streams before being disposed of in the appropriate manner, such as via your waste collector.
Remember
It is your responsibility to ensure that you're not supporting waste crime by using a reputable, registered waste collector.
For full information on workplace recycling in Wales, please visit the Business of Recycling Wales Guidance.
Beyondly is here to keep you informed!
By staying up to date with policy and industry changes, we guide our members through complex regulations. If you have any questions about the update shared in this article, please contact your WEEE Account Manager directly or submit an enquiry here and a member of our team will get back to you within 24 hours.
