The Lighting Superstore - WEEE Regulations and Returns

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive is now UK law. The legislation aims to make producers (The Manufacturers) 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 (The Lighting Superstore for example) must allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge.

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.

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

The Lighting Superstore is obliged under these regulations to offer our customers free take-back of their WEEE on a like-for-like basis when they buy a new Electrical or Electronic product from us. For example, if a customer bought a new single spot light from us we would accept their old single spot light and prevent it going into a landfill site by disposing of it safely and responsibly.

The WEEE item can be returned via a courier or in person and must be returned to The Lighting Superstore, WEEE Returns Department, Unit G11, Avonside Ent Park, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8BT. The cost of returning the WEEE item to us is to be covered by the customer; we do not offer a WEEE collection service.

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

Very Important Information: Customers must obtain a returns authorisation number BEFORE returning their WEEE items to us. This must be requested in writing via FAX 01225 793100, Via email returns@thelightingsuperstore.co.uk or via surface mail letter sent to The Lighting Superstore, WEEE Returns Department, Unit G11, Avonside Ent Park, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8BT. Please ensure that state your order number and details of the product you wish to return.

Under the WEEE Regulations, all new electrical goods should now be marked with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol as shown here.

Goods are marked with this symbol to show that they were produced after 13th August 2005, and should be disposed of separately from normal household waste so that they can be recycled.