Ryness (ryness.co.uk) offer the following information regarding the WEEE Regulations for the UK:

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive is now UK law. The legislation aims to make producers pay for the collection, treatment and recovery of waste electrical equipment. The regulations also mean that suppliers of equipment like high street shops and internet retailers must allow consumers to return their waste equipment for safe disposal.

The amount of WEEE we throw away is increasing by around 5% each year, making it the fastest growing waste stream in the UK.

Much of the UK's WEEE ends up in landfill, where the lead and other toxins it contains can cause soil and water contamination. This can have a harmful effect on natural habitat, wildlife and also human health.

Many electrical items that we throw away can be repaired or recycled. Recycling items helps to save our natural finite resources and also reduces the environmental and health risks associated with sending electrical goods to landfill. 

This symbol is known as the 'Crossed out Wheelie Bin Symbol'. When this symbol is marked on a product or packaging, it means that the product should not be disposed of with your general household waste. Only discard electrical/electronic items in separate collection schemes, which cater for the recovery and recycling of materials contained within. Your co-operation is vital to ensure the success of these schemes and for the protection of the environment.

www.erp-batteries.co.uk is a website showing the location of disposal sites including those which are Council controlled where WEEE can be taken to ensure safe storage and recycling.

Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) waste is increasing three times faster than average municipal waste and the EU estimates that WEEE currently accounts for 4% of total waste. Much of the UK's electronic waste ends up in landfill sites where toxins put communities at risk. Failure to segregate any type of recyclable material in the home will usually result in items being disposed of in a landfill site and eventually being buried in the ground or being incinerated. It has been estimated that landfill space in the UK will run out within the next 10 years and recycling WEEE will have significant effects on the environment. When WEEE is not recycled the waste can have negative impacts on soil, air and water quality that can lead to environmental damage which can also bring about negative impacts on human and animal health.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (2006 No. 3289) (W.E.E.E) have been put in place to ensure that products are recycled using best available treatment, recovery and recycling techniques to ensure human health and high environmental protection.
In order to meet our obligations as a retailer as defined in the UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations (SI 2006 No. 3289 - 11 December 2006) (referred to hereafter as "the WEEE Regulations")

The requirement on each Member State under Article 2 of the Directive to minimise the disposal of WEEE as unsorted municipal waste and to achieve a high level of collection of WEEE for treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal. We will also meet our obligations under regulation 33 to make information available to users of EEE in private households on regulation 31 and regulation 32 to maintain records of such transactions.

a. the requirement on each Member State under Article 2 of the Directive to minimise the disposal of WEEE as unsorted municipal waste and to achieve a high level of collection of WEEE for treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal; 
b. the collection and take back systems available to them;
c. their role in contributing to the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of WEEE under these Regulations; 
d. the potential effects on the environment and human health as a result of the presence of hazardous substances in WEEE; and 
e. the meaning of the crossed out wheeled bin symbol.

WEEE Regulations as Applicable to www.ryness.co.uk

Distributors of new Electric and Electronic Equipment (EEE) have a part to play in reducing the amount of WEEE going into landfill sites.

ryness.co.uk is obliged under these regulations to offer our customers a take back service of their WEEE on a like-for-like basis when they buy a new Electrical or Electronic product from us.

Customers must return their WEEE item to us within 28 days of purchasing their new item.

Take back

31. As a retailer who supplies new EEE to any person we shall ensure that WEEE from private
households can be returned to us on a one-to-one basis by that person, provided that any such WEEE-

(a) is of equivalent type to, and
(b) has fulfilled the same function as, the supplied equipment.

Record keeping

34.-(1) As a retailer to whom the obligation in regulation 31 applies we shall maintain records of
the number of units of WEEE from private households returned to us under that regulation.
(2) A retailer who returns WEEE from private households under regulation 32 shall maintain records of the number of units of WEEE from private households returned by him under that regulation.
(3) Each retailer to whom the obligation in regulation 33 applies shall maintain records of the information made available under that regulation. 25
(4) The records referred to in this regulation shall be kept for a period of at least four years
commencing on the date on which any such record is made and shall be made available to the
Secretary of State on demand.

The requirements of regulation 31 (to "ensure that WEEE from private households can be returned on a one-to-one basis") and regulation 34(1) (maintenance of records).

We offer the opportunity to have your electronic items returned to us for safe disposal under the WEEE regulations. These items are then returned to our suppliers in exchange for NEW replacement items.

Under the Waste Battery Regulations, Ryness are now offering a take back scheme for all portable waste batteries. You can return your waste batteries to our business premises in person (PLEASE DO NOT POST).

Alternatively, you can find your local waste portable battery recycling facility at www.recyclenow.com

Most supermarkets and shops that sell batteries will have collection bins for used batteries, and some townhalls, libraries or schools may also set up collection points. End-users may find stores in their local area more accessible.