Quick Answer
If you sell electrical or electronic equipment to UK customers, you're subject to the UK's WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations. You must register with the Environment Agency and join an approved compliance scheme. Some merchants pass WEEE-related costs through to customers as a visible fee. Magical Fees lets you add a WEEE compliance surcharge as a clear line item at checkout for UK orders.
What You Need to Know About UK WEEE
The UK's WEEE Regulations require producers who place electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) on the UK market to fund the collection and recycling of waste electronics. "Producer" means anyone who manufactures, imports, rebrands, or sells EEE under their own name in the UK — including online sellers based outside the UK.
Registration fees
Registration fees are tiered by producer size:
- Small producers (<5 tonnes of EEE per year) — £30 annual registration
- Producers with ≤£1M turnover — £210 annual registration
- Producers with >£1M turnover — £445 annual registration
- Overseas/non-VAT-registered producers — £30 annual registration
Compliance obligations
Beyond registration, you must join an approved producer compliance scheme (PCS). The PCS handles your collection and recycling targets. If you fail to meet annual WEEE collection targets, you pay a compliance fee as an alternative (the amount is set annually by consultation).
Who's affected
Anyone selling EEE to UK consumers, including:
- UK-based manufacturers and retailers
- Non-UK online sellers shipping electronics to UK customers
- Marketplaces facilitating sales of EEE
For official guidance, see the Environment Agency's WEEE producer compliance page.
Should You Pass WEEE Costs Through to Customers?
Like EU packaging EPR, WEEE compliance costs are your obligation as a producer. You're not required to show them separately at checkout. Many electronics retailers absorb these costs.
But some merchants — especially smaller producers or those with tight margins — prefer to pass the cost through as a visible "WEEE Recycling Fee" or "Electronics Recycling Levy." This can:
- Keep your base product prices competitive
- Show customers you're taking environmental responsibility seriously
- Make the cost transparent rather than hidden
If you choose to pass it through, here's how to set it up.
How to Set Up WEEE Fees With Magical Fees
Magical Fees handles the UK-specific, product-specific logic.
1. Calculate your per-product WEEE cost
Your WEEE cost depends on your compliance scheme fees, registration fees, and the weight/category of electronics you sell. Work out an average per-unit cost by dividing your total annual WEEE compliance costs by the number of units you expect to sell. Alternatively, set a flat fee per product category.
2. Create a WEEE fee rule
In Magical Fees, create a fixed-price fee. Name it clearly — "UK WEEE Recycling Fee" or "Electronics Recycling Levy."
Set the amount to your calculated per-unit cost. Target the rule to your electronics products (by collection or tag).
3. Add a UK location condition
Add a location condition so the fee only applies to orders shipping to the United Kingdom. Customers in other countries won't see the charge.
4. Differentiate by product category (optional)
If your WEEE costs differ significantly between product categories — for example, large appliances vs small electronics — create separate rules with different amounts for each category.
5. Test it
Place test orders for electronics products shipping to UK addresses and non-UK addresses. Verify the fee appears as a clear line item for UK orders only, at the correct amount.
Common Questions
Do you need to register even if you're based outside the UK?
Yes. If you sell EEE to UK consumers, you need to register with the Environment Agency regardless of where your business is located. Overseas producers who are not VAT-registered in the UK pay a reduced £30 registration fee.
What counts as electrical and electronic equipment?
Broadly, any product that needs electricity or batteries to work. This includes computers, phones, TVs, kitchen appliances, power tools, lighting, toys with electronic components, and medical devices. The UK government's WEEE guidance has the full list of categories.
What happens if you don't comply?
The Environment Agency can issue compliance notices, variable monetary penalties, and pursue criminal prosecution for persistent non-compliance. It's not just a fine — you can lose the ability to sell electronics in the UK.
How often do WEEE fees change?
Registration fees are set by the Environment Agency and don't change frequently. Compliance scheme fees vary by provider and are typically reviewed annually. The compliance fee alternative is set annually through public consultation.
Further Reading
Always label deposits separately for compliance
Display bottle deposit fees as a clearly labeled, separate line item at checkout and on receipts. This meets regulatory transparency requirements, builds customer trust by showing exactly what they're paying, and makes it significantly easier to track deposits for reporting and audits. Use a clear label like "Bottle deposit" or "Container deposit (CRV)" so customers immediately understand the charge.
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