Unwanted IT equipment is being dumped in landfill at an alarming rate – and business is largely to blame. Grant Barton, of IT asset disposal experts S2S, explains how to address the problem.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world.
For instance, the UK generates on average 1.6 million tonnes of electronic waste every year, but less than one-third is formally collected for recycling.
Businesses are responsible for a large amount of WEEE that ends up in landfill, with UK companies purchasing close to half a million electricals such as phones, IT, and appliances every year.
Reuse and recycling are thus essential to cut the environmental impact of end-of-life IT assets and contribute to an economy where resource use and waste are minimised to protect our environment.
What is WEEE recycling and why is it important?
The process refers to the process of collecting, recycling, and recovering valuable materials from redundant electrical and electronic devices.
In 2013, the UK government introduced the WEEE Regulations – the underpinning legislation to reduce waste and promote the recycling of WEEE – which provides guidance for producers and distributors in terms of the EEE they sell and their obligation to finance its collection and disposal.
While retailers and distributors must comply with specific WEEE regulations, the same pressure is not applied to businesses handling WEEE. However, those under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 do have a duty of care to responsibly dispose of their business waste, including electricals.
Public awareness and responsibility for electrical recycling is low – in fact, around 200,000 tonnes of business electricals are thrown away with general waste every year.
As IT assets contain dangerous materials such as mercury, batteries, flame retardants, lead, chromium, barium and cadmium, it is crucial they are separated and treated before disposal. If this process is not carried out effectively, these materials will end up in landfill, where chemicals can poison the soil, water, and air.
So, what are the options to protect human and environmental health, as well as your data security.
WEEE collection, regulation and compliance
The global WEEE market is evolving as regulatory changes push forward the circular economy agenda. In the European Union, more producers are taking responsibility and increasing product recyclability at the end of life to avoid financial implications, under mandates such as the WEEE Directive and the RoHS Directive.
In January 2025, the UK government published its response to a consultation on reforming the producer responsibility system for WEEE. This included introducing new obligations for online marketplaces with WEEE in relation to their overseas sellers, and created a dedicated category for vapes and vape-related products with collection targets to be set by Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) from 2026 onwards.
However, there is still largely a question mark around business and consumer responsibility when it comes to IT asset disposal. Since 31 March 2025, businesses are required to separate their waste streams into either dry recyclables or commercial food waste – but what about e-waste?
The government is urging businesses to prepare as dedicated steps towards a circular economy are established.
England is set to publish its own circular economy strategy later this year, so businesses should be aware of how they can strengthen their operations and contribute to a closed loop supply chain through taking WEEE seriously.
Reusing before recycling
New circular economy models focus on reuse before recycling and involve depolluting end-of-life products and reintroducing them to the market as secondary materials.
This ensures that electronic devices are processed in an environmentally responsible way by extracting their value and reducing the need for new materials.
Regulatory focus needs to broaden beyond producers and distributors meeting weight-based WEEE targets. All actors in the system must be reviewed and given roles – including businesses, local authorities, consumers and government.
Taking into consideration the large amount of e-waste generated by businesses every year, where device recovery and refurbishment are an option, organisations must consider the added benefits of reusing their devices over disposing of them. IT asset disposal companies can support this process, offering cash rebate incentives to encourage device refurbishment and resale to prevent items from going to landfill.
Prioritising safety and security
Where redundant devices cannot be restored, businesses must ensure the safe collection of WEEE for recycling at an Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF). This process reduces landfill waste, reclaims valuable materials such as batteries or metals, and protects the environment from harmful pollutants.
Data protection is also a key consideration, particularly in high-risk industries such as finance, legal, healthcare and government where sensitive information is stored. The secure and safe disposal of unused equipment is paramount to ensuring confidentiality and minimising the risk of a data breach.
IT asset disposal providers grade and test each piece of equipment to assess its value, before sanitising it to ensure complete protection.
Fostering responsible business practices
By taking responsibility for unused IT assets, engaging a proper disposal process, and using a trusted ITAD, businesses can rest assured that the environment – and just as importantly, their sensitive information – is protected.
