Electrical and electronic goods are amongst the world's fastest growing areas of production fuelled by huge consumer demand and resulting in a growing mountain of waste as old, broken or obsolete electrical goods are thrown away.
The European Commission has been tackling these issues and in 2002 published the EU Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Directive.
This went before the UK Parliament in December 2006, becoming effective on July 1st, 2007. Electronic and electrical equipment subject to these regulations is identified by a wheelie bin icon either on the product itself, its packaging or instructions for use. The wheelie bin icon is illustrated above. The principal obligations laid on producers, distributors and retailers of Electronic and Electrical Equipment (EEE) are as follows:-
Amongst the obvious WEEE such as televisions, PC's and washing machines are also toys and model railway products.
Gaugemaster Ltd’s obligations as a manufacturer and importer are covered by our membership of a WEEE Producer Compliance Scheme run by Valpak. The payments we make into this scheme ensure that no owner of a Gaugemaster branded EEE product will have a problem if a time comes when they need it to be recycled.
For our obligation as a retailer Gaugemaster Ltd. has decided not to join the DTS scheme which would mean you having to take your WEEE to your nearest Designated Collection Facility (DCF) - the municipal tip in the bad old days. Instead we have registered to offer free Like-For-Like In Store Take Back for all redundant electrical & electronic model railway and slot car products. We will then take responsibility for the safe recycling of this material. We believe that our customers will find this approach more convenient than visiting their local DCF.
The In Store Take Back scheme works very simply on a like for like basis. When you are buying, say, a new Controller you can at the same time, if you wish, hand over your old, redundant Controller as WEEE for us to deal with. The age, make and model of Controller you are handing over does not matter. We would not though, be able to accept, say, a Slot Car or a loco as WEEE if you were purchasing a Controller.
We will then arrange to have your WEEE recycled. If the article is appropriate it may be renovated and resold or passed on to charity, otherwise it will be sent to an Approved and Accredited Treatment Facility where all elements of value will be abstracted for further recycling. This service is free of charge, but you are responsible for the cost of returning your WEEE to our premises.
You may bring in to Gaugemaster 'like for like' WEEE up to two weeks after you make your purchase but please be certain to bring your sales receipt with you otherwise we will not be able to accept the WEEE.
If you are a Mail-order customer or purchasing from our Website and wish to take advantage of this Like-For-Like In Store Take Back Scheme please send the item you wish to be recycled together with the invoice number of your purchase to:- Gaugemaster Controls Ltd, Gaugemaster House, Ford Road, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 0BN.
If it is more convenient, you are permitted to take WEEE to your local Designated Collection Facility. In the Arun area these are located as follows:-
For other areas, please visit either www.recycle-more.co.uk or your Local Authority website to find the location of your local DCF. If you are in any doubt please telephone or contact us for help.