Disposal of electrical and electronic equipment is now covered by legislation; compliance with the EU WEEE Directive became mandatory as of 31 June 2007.
WEEE forms
IT equipment
All IT equipment must be identified by their asset numbers for updating the asset register.
Laboratory equipment
All laboratory equipment must be thoroughly decontaminated prior to being submitted for disposal and a suitably signed and completed decontamination certificate appended.
Please look at the standard College decontamination certificate plus supporting guidance for further information.
Hazards
When submitting your request for disposal please make it clear in the notes field if there are any known hazards in the equipment.
In particular, capacitors and transformers and products containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Historically, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were extensively used in electrical equipment such as capacitors and transformers. However, their use in open applications was widely banned in 1972 and they have not been used in the manufacture of new equipment since 1986.
The HSE website contains further information on PCBs including product trade names.
Cost
There is no charge for removal of waste electrical equipment except where the item requires specific lifting equipment/dismantling/manual handling or there are specific hazards such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Campus coverage
WEEE arrangements are now in place at:
- Charing Cross
- Hammersmith
- South Kensington
- St Mary's
- Silwood Park
- White City
At South Kensington, we aim to respond to requests within 3 days, however, it may take longer for unlisted items where we need to obtain a quotation for disposal. Collection arrangements at other campuses vary. Large and heavy objects may need to be held in your Department until they can be collected directly by our contractors.
It is imperative that items awaiting collection are not placed in corridors.