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Collection of old appliances

 

In this article, we explain the obligation to collect old appliances equivalent to the product purchased when the customer requests it.

Important: collection must be guaranteed at the time the new appliance is supplied, not afterwards.
Contents
  1. When you must collect the old appliance
  2. How WEEE collection must be managed
  3. What you must agree with the transport company
  4. Your obligations as a seller
  5. Summary
1️⃣ When you must collect the old appliance

When you supply a new appliance, you must ensure that the customer can return the equivalent old appliance, at least free of charge and on a one-for-one basis.

The old appliance must be of an equivalent type and must have performed the same functions as the new product supplied.

2️⃣ How WEEE collection must be managed

WEEE collection may be carried out through reverse logistics. This allows the transport company delivering the new appliance to the customer’s home to collect the waste appliance and deliver it to the relevant logistics platform or back to the store.

For this type of collection, the carrier does not need to be a waste manager, provided the operation is carried out under the reverse logistics regime.

3️⃣ What you must agree with the transport company

The collection obligation must be expressly agreed with the transport company.

In addition to carrying out the collection, the system must allow the traceability of the collected waste to be documented.

  • Obligation to collect WEEE at the time of delivery.
  • Planned destination of the collected waste.
  • Data update system.
  • Documentary traceability guarantees.
  • Recording of entries, exits or movements where applicable.
Recommendation: regulate the transport company’s obligations for WEEE collection contractually to ensure regulatory compliance.
4️⃣ Your obligations as a seller

As a Marketplace seller, you have two main obligations:

  • Ensure WEEE collection at the time of supply when the customer buys an equivalent product and requests collection.
  • Only market EEE from registered producers that have a producer identification number in the Integrated Industrial Register.
Please note: this obligation also applies to Marketplace sellers, not only to distributors with physical stores.
5️⃣ Summary
  • If you sell a new appliance: you must allow collection of the equivalent old appliance if the customer requests it.
  • Collection must take place at the time of supply: it must not be left for a later process.
  • The transport company must be prepared: collection must be agreed and documented.
  • You must ensure traceability: the collected waste must be traceable to its corresponding destination.

 

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