The Welsh Government has brought forward new legislation that would require workplaces across Wales to separately collect small waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) for recycling from April 2026.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, confirmed that the Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 have now been laid before the Senedd, describing the move as the next stage in the country’s workplace recycling reforms.
If approved by Members of the Senedd, the new requirements would take effect from 6 April 2026.
Expanded Requirements For Electrical Waste
The proposed Regulations would extend existing obligations on non-domestic premises, requiring all small electrical and electronic waste to be presented separately for collection. Currently, only unsold electrical items must be separated.
The changes amend the Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023 and would place new duties across the waste chain, including:
- Requiring workplaces to segregate sWEEE from other waste streams
- Ensuring waste collectors gather sWEEE separately from other recyclables and residual waste
- Requiring operators handling collected materials to keep sWEEE separate and uncontaminated
The Welsh Government said the updated approach is designed to improve both the volume and quality of materials captured for recycling, helping to recover valuable resources that are often lost when small electrical items are disposed of incorrectly.
Alongside the legislative changes, a revised draft Code of Practice for the Separate Collection of Waste Materials for Recycling has also been laid, reflecting the proposed new requirements for sWEEE.
Once the Regulations are formally made, the final version of the Code of Practice will be published and presented to the Senedd.
Environmental And Economic Benefits
The Welsh Government estimates that the new measures will deliver substantial environmental and economic gains over the next decade.
Over a 10-year period, the Regulations are expected to cut carbon emissions by 7,437 tonnes and increase recycling volumes by 37,757 tonnes.
Additional benefits are anticipated across the waste and recycling sector, including the creation of around 90 new jobs.
The sWEEE reforms form part of the Welsh Government’s wider Programme for Government commitment to developing a “stronger, greener economy” while addressing the climate and nature emergency.
Irranca-Davies said the proposals represent “significant progress” in improving how workplaces manage waste and in recovering valuable materials from the waste stream.
A national communications campaign is already underway to help businesses and organisations prepare ahead of the proposed April 2026 implementation date.
