WEEE stands for the waste electrical and electronic equipment. It refers to electrically operated devices that have been taken out of use due to breaking or some other reason. Various small household appliances, such as coffee makers, electric toothbrushes, hair dryers, irons and drills are referred to as small electrical appliances, or EE devices, commonly used in a domestic setting. Larger appliances such as stoves, refrigerators and washing machines are called large household appliances. In addition, there are electronic devices for entertainment purposes, such as computers, tablets and cell phones commonly used at home. Electric heaters, water heaters and other devices used in technical building are also EE, electrical and electronic equipment.
Therefore, all appliances that need electric current in order to function, including those powered by accumulators, batteries or solar energy, and devices that require electromagnetic field in order to function, are electrical and electronic equipment. All lamps, except incandescent and halogen lamps, are electrical and electronic equipment.
Electrical and electronic equipment has a separate recycling label: a trash can with check mark crossed out. This means that the WEEE does not belong in the trash bin.
Do not put WEEE in the mixed waste
Reusing a device that is intact but not needed is a real environmental act. However, if the device can no longer be used, recycling of such devices is free for consumers. Broken device must be taken to one of almost 500 official collection locations found around Finland. The device can also be taken for recycling to the stores that sell such devices.
Regional collection points accept EE devices of all sizes free of charge. You can find the nearest location at www.kierratys.info More info: Follow these steps to successfully recycle your EE
Stores that sell EE equipment accept small electrical appliances free of charge, and you are not obligated to buy a new product for replacement. If you want to recycle a large household appliance, stores will only accept your old appliance when you buy a similar one.
Loose batteries and accumulators must have their terminals taped before being placed in the red collection boxes for batteries inside the stores. Do not put loose batteries in WEEE collection. More info: Safe recycling of batteries and accumulators
When a device is recycled, the materials used in it are taken out of it and sent for further use in the industry. This is how they end up as raw materials for new products. Never throw EE equipment into the mixed waste, as this will result in the loss of raw materials used in the equipment.