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Rob Spiegel
Rob Spiegel

UK retailer busted for WEEE violations

February 2, 2006

Irish retailer, Boots Retail has become the first company in the European Union to be prosecuted for violating the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulation. The retailer pleaded guilty to charges brought against the company by the UK Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The case was argued in Wexford District Court in Ireland.

The court imposed a fine of 1,200 pounds on Boots, while also awarding 6,865 to the EPA to cover the agency’s prosecution.

Boots officials admitted the company failed to post a notice in their shops alerting customers that the prices of electronic products include a contribution to a producer recycling fund that ensures old electrical and electronic products are collected and recycled appropriately. Boots also failed to include a notice in a newspaper ad that a contribution is made to the fund from add-on’s to the retail price. Notices in shops and in advertising is required by WEEE.

Posted by Rob Spiegel on February 2, 2006 | Comments (6)
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May 1, 2008
In response to: UK retailer busted for WEEE violations
Undetermined commented:

According to RTE business the fine was €1,200 on the company, while costs of €6,865 were awarded to the EPA. It would be the irish EPA, as none of the 3 UK jurisdictions have an EPA, England and Wales have the environment agency, Scotland has SEPA and Northern Ireland doesn't have one....


February 22, 2008
In response to: UK retailer busted for WEEE violations
Undetermined commented:

Very good site! Nice usability! Thank you all!


February 17, 2008
In response to: UK retailer busted for WEEE violations
Undetermined commented:

Hi, nice very nice page..! Good luck !


March 20, 2006
In response to: UK retailer busted for WEEE violations
Undetermined commented:

As I understand it, if an American company wants to sell direct to end-consumers in Europe, then that American company must make provisions for accepting and recycling the product at its end-of-life, provisions which vary from country-to-country but generally include paying into some sort of fund, must allert the consumer about those provisions and how to dispose of the product at end-of-life, and must label their product with the WEEElie Bin Icon. However, if the American company does not sell directly to end-consumers but to wholesalers or distributors, then the American company has little or no obligation. Some of our EU distributors have asked us to put the WEEElie Bin Icons on our products so that they won't have to open the boxes, unpack, unwrap, apply the labels, and then rewrap, repack, and rebox everything. However, one EU distributor tells us that if we do that, then the seller will have to pay into the recycling fund every time the product is re-sold. So, if the American company sells the product with WEEElie Bins on it to a wholesaler and the wholesaler/importer, then the manufacturer must pay into the fund. If the wholesaler/importer then sells the product to a distributor, the wholesaler will have to pay into the fund again. If the distributor then sells it to a retailer, the distributor will have to pay into the fund again. And when the retailer finally sells it to the consumer (the one who will ultimately dispose of it), the retailer will have to pay into the fund yet again. All of this because the product had a WEEElie Bin on it each time it was sold. If, however, the product did not get a WEEElie bin until it was sold to the consumer, then there would only have to be one payment. That all makes no sense to me, but it is what we're told right now. Chuck Gollnick, Electrical Engineer Biamp Systems, Beaverton, Oregon


March 4, 2006
In response to: UK retailer busted for WEEE violations
Undetermined commented:

Good question. I'll check with a distributor and get back on this.


March 3, 2006
In response to: UK retailer busted for WEEE violations
Undetermined commented:

What kind of obligation does a US Mfgr have in regards to the WEEE directive for products sold through distributors in Europe?

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