The changes, introduced in Parliament in June as a Statutory Instrument, also make online marketplaces responsible for financing their share of recycling costs, with partial costs applying in 2026 and full costs from 2027.
According to Defra, UK-based firms have formerly covered the costs of collecting and processing electrical waste, leaving them at a disadvantage to overseas sellers trading via online platforms without contributing to recycling.
Defra commented that the reforms will ensure “manufacturers and importers do not unduly bear the cost burden of managing waste they did not create – making the system fairer for British businesses”.
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh added: “We are committed to moving towards a circular economy in which we keep electricals from laptops to toasters in use for longer.
“Ensuring online marketplaces pay their share for managing the cost of the electrical waste they generate will increase recycling and level the playing field for UK-based retailers.”
Tackling non-compliance
A UK WEEE Scheme Forum survey found that 76% of LED lamps offered for sale on a major marketplace were not registered for WEEE.
Recolight CEO Nigel Harvey said: “For over a decade, online marketplaces have facilitated the sale of WEEE non-compliant products in the UK on an industrial scale.
“The consequences have been very damaging for legitimate UK businesses. The sellers of non-compliant products have gained an unfair advantage because they do not pay their share of recycling costs.”
He added: “Rather than requiring many tens of thousands of non-UK companies to register for WEEE, they have instead placed that obligation on the small number of online marketplaces. That will make enforcement by the UK environment agencies much more straightforward.”
Vapes included in WEEE
Alongside the obligations for marketplaces, a new WEEE category for vapes has been introduced to ensure producers pay for their collection and treatment.
Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus, said: “We welcome the new vape category announced today, which provides a further opportunity to tighten up the environmental enforcement of vapes.
“By understanding how many vapes are being sold, Defra can set targets to ensure that vape producers make their fair contribution to the costs of recycling these products.”
The single-use vape ban came into force in June 2025, requiring all vapes to be both rechargeable and refillable.
George Atkinson, Director of Policy at Valpak, added: “Valpak fully supports Defra’s decision to classify vapes as their own category of electrical waste. This change reflects the higher costs of recycling vapes compared to Category 7 (toys, leisure, and sports equipment) and ensures regulations are proportionate to real-world recycling challenges.”
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