
A distributor is defined as any business who provides EEE on a commercial basis
to a consumer.
Distributors who supply new EEE, intended for use by private households, will
attract an obligation under the UK WEEE Regulations. Examples of such distributors
include but are not limited to:
- wholesalers
- high street retailers
- mail order sellers
- internet sellers

Distributors supplying new EEE have to ensure that WEEE from private households
can be returned, free of charge, on a one-for-one, like for like basis.
Distributors supplying new EEE to private households are obligated to inform
householders about:
- the need for separate collection
of WEEE, and the high collection rates of WEEE for treatment, recovery and environmentally
sound disposal
- facilities available for the
disposal of WEEE
- their role in contributing
to the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of WEEE under the WEEE regulations
- the potential impact to the
environment and to human health, of hazardous substances contained within WEEE
- the meaning of the crossed
out wheelie bin symbol
Distributors have to maintain records of the number
of units - by category - of WEEE from private households returned to them, and the
information they have provided to their consumers.
Records are to be maintained for 4 years and should
be made available to the appropriate authority on demand.

Distributors have two options in order to comply with their legal obligations:
To find out more visit the Distributor Takeback
Scheme (DTS) website
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