WEEE & recycling

WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment — anything with a plug or a battery at the end of its life. The UK WEEE Regulations 2013 exist to keep these products out of landfill so the materials inside can be recovered and any hazardous components handled safely.

Most electricals carry a crossed-out wheelie bin symbol. It's a simple reminder: don't put this in your normal household waste. Instead, it should be taken to a dedicated recycling route so it can be treated properly.

You have a few easy options:

• Take-back when you buy from us. As a distributor we support the take-back of old electrical equipment. When you buy a new unit from us, you can recycle a like-for-like old one — email support@airconditioneruk.com and we'll explain how to arrange it.
• Your local recycling centre. Most Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) accept electricals free of charge.
• Find a point with Recycle Now. Visit recyclenow.com to find your nearest electrical-recycling location by postcode.

Air conditioners, heat-pump units and some dehumidifiers contain sealed refrigerant gas (such as R290 or R32). At end of life this gas must be recovered by a licensed recycling facility — it should never be released into the atmosphere.

For that reason, please never puncture, crush, burn or fly-tip a cooling unit, and don't put it in general waste. Take it to an HWRC or use our take-back so it's handled correctly and safely.

Remote controls and any batteries should be recycled separately. Most supermarkets and recycling centres have battery collection points, and the remote itself can go into electrical recycling.

We take our responsibilities under the WEEE Regulations 2013 seriously and want recycling to be as easy as buying. If you're ever unsure how to dispose of a unit you bought from us, just email support@airconditioneruk.com and we'll point you to the right route.