Retailers

'Distributor' means any person who provides electrical and electronic equipment and/or batteries or accumulators on a commercial basis to the party who is going to use it.

For the purposes of these Regulations, a 'Distributor' is a 'Retailer'.

Distributors Responsibility

On and from 13 August 2005, each Distributor of electrical and electronic equipment shall be prohibited from distributing electrical and electronic equipment from a producer who;

From 26th September 2008, each Distributor of Batteries or accumulators shall be prohibited from distributing batteries or accumulators from a producer who;

Distributors importing EEE and/or batteries or accumulators directly and placing onto the Irish market may come under the description of a 'Producer'. Please see the Producer section of this website for the obligations placed on Producers by the WEEE Regulations 2005.

Contribution to Producer Recycling Fund (PRF)

Any Distributor, i.e. Retailer, who distributes electrical and electronic equipment supplied by a producer and displays environmental management costs (EMCs), shall be required to ensure that such costs are indicated in writing to each purchaser. These are referred to in the legislation as contributions to the Producer Recycling Fund (PRF).

Producer members of WEEE Ireland are obliged under the membership terms and conditions to apply and show visible environmental management costs (vEMCs) to their customers where applicable.

In the case of batteries and accumulators, no visible environmental cost is to be shown to the consumer as these costs are 'invisible'/incorporated into the retail cost.

Examples of the 3 point pricing requirement for Retailers of EEE for shelf price displays along with sample in-store notices and till receipts can be seen in the downloads section on the right hand side of this page.

Take-Back Obligation

Distributors, i.e. Retailers, when supplying a new product, must accept back waste electrical and electronic equipment from private households free of charge on a one-to-one basis as long as the waste electrical and electronic equipment is of equivalent type or has fulfilled the same function as the supplied equipment, other than contaminated waste electrical and electronic equipment that presents a health and safety risk unless such contamination is on account of a distributor's liability.

Distributors, i.e. Retailers, must accept back batteries and accumulators from private households free of charge as long as the batteries and accumulators are of equivalent type available to purchase from the premises. There is no requirement for a purchase to be made. Retailers may limit any one consumer to 5kgs of battery returns at any one time and may refuse to accept any waste portable battery leaking any of its constituent materials. Retailers must also inform customers of the return and collection systems available to them when supplying a new product (can be an instruction manual or leaflet issued at the point of sale).

Third Party Take-Back

Distributors, i.e. Retailers of EEE, with the agreement of the appropriate Local Authorities, may make alternative arrangements for ensuring that the obligations above are discharged on their behalf by:

There is a requirement for a notice at the entrance of retail premises operating such approved alternative take-back systems.

Written Indication of Take-Back Warranty to Consumer

Distributors, i.e. Retailers, must indicate in writing to the consumer the last date on which the waste electrical and electronic equipment can be returned free of charge. Where appropriate, an alternative collection point may be indicated to the consumer, provided that returning it is not made more difficult for the consumer and remains free of charge.

Collection

Retailers wishing to organise direct collection of WEEE (providing there is a minimum of 4 pallets or equivalent of material in a single location) or battery boxes (providing there is sufficient quantity of these boxes) should contact Conor Leonard at WEEE Ireland on (01)2999320.

Retailers of EEE must also register with their Local Authority or WEEE Ireland in order to recycle their WEEE in a Civic Amenity Site. For further information please see the Links page for a list of Local Authority websites.

Distance Sellers

1. Producers/ Companies based outside of Ireland selling to a Distributor/Retailer in Ireland do not need to be registered with WEEE Ireland or the WEEE Register Society. In this case, the Distributor/Retailer becomes the Producer and needs to register with WEEE Ireland and with the WEEE Register Society. The Distributor/Retailer in this case will only need to enter the Electrical and Electronic Equipment and/or batteries or accumulators imported from that particular supplier into the Black Box provided all other suppliers are properly registered for EEE and/or batteries.
2. Producers based outside of Ireland who supply EEE and/or batteries directly to consumers by means of Distance Communication (E.g. through websites or catalogues) must register with both WEEE Ireland and the WEEE Register Society. They must also:
• Notify customers that household EEE will be taken-back at least free of charge on a one-for-one basis.
• Provide to customers an address in the State where he or she takes back WEEE
• Provide at least 24 hours notice of delivery and take back WEEE one a one-for-one basis when the replacement EEE is being delivered.
• Display EMCs where applicable
• on their website or other electronic means of communication or as appropriate
• in each or his or her catalogues, brochures, direct mail communication or as appropriate
• on each invoice, receipt or docket issued at the point of sale to the customer also stating – “Producer Recycling Fund [amount of environmental management cost]”
If you have any distance selling obligations in the State and require further assistance, please email us with details to info@weeeireland.ie.