Freezer and refrigerated equipment disposal

The "WEEE" Directive

All laboratory, and office equipment, dependant on electrical currents or electromagnetic fields this includes IT equipment of course, are now covered by a new directive called "WEEE" – Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. This directive will become law on August 12th. 2004.

This will require you to ensure that any apparatus is recycled by licensed operators. That it is stored in adequate facilities, defined as weatherproof with an impermeable floor prior to recycling or destruction. That it will have separate removal of all fluids and certain substances such as lead or mercury. 

The law will require an audit trail from you the waste producer, via a licensed carrier, to the waste treatment facility in the same way that is now required for freezers as described above. 

It is to be hoped that the disposal plant operators, by the use of advanced technology, will be able to recover much of the cost of disposal by extracting the valuable materials for resale and the cost to you, the user of the equipment will not be prohibitive. HRH will be working to find the least expensive way for you to dispose of equipment coming under the new law while staying strictly within the regulations. As more information becomes available, we will update this site.

Freezers and large laboratory equipment pose a problem even before the issue of final disposal. They are often in positions where they need operatives trained in the use of heavy handling and lifting equipment to extract them safely. HRH has been delivering, site positioning and relocating heavy laboratory apparatus for twenty five years. We possibly delivered the item in the first place. You can be assured we will get it out and away with the least disruption to your laboratory.

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