New WEEE Regulations are coming: Vapes and marketplaces in the spotlight

The UK WEEE Regulations are evolving, and if you’re selling vapes or running an online marketplace, this will affect you.

On 2 July 2025, the UK Parliament debated a new Statutory Instrument (SI) amendment to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013. With the final signature expected shortly, the changes are set to come into force on 1 August 2025, just 21 days after ministerial approval.

So what’s changing? Two major updates:

1. Vapes and e-cigarettes get their own category

For the first time, vapes and e-cigarettes will be split into their own reporting category—Category 7.1.

Here’s what this means for vape producers:

• From the date the regulations enter into force, vapes must be reported under Category 7.1
• Reporting will be quarterly
• Transitional expectation: producers may need to retrospectively report vapes placed on the market from the start of 2025 under the existing Category 7, and under 7.1 from the point of enforcement onward.

Why it matters: Vape use has skyrocketed, and regulators are now ensuring this growing waste stream is tracked and treated responsibly. Producers need to be ready with accurate data and updated reporting processes.

2. Online marketplaces now count as producers

The second and more wide-reaching change? Online Marketplaces (OMPs) will now be classed as a new type of producer under WEEE.

That means if you’re running an OMP through which non-UK suppliers sell electricals to UK households, you’ll be:

• Financially responsible for collection and treatment of household WEEE sold via your platform
• Obligated to report the quantity of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) sold by non-UK suppliers
• Required to register with the Environment Agency by 15 November 2025
• Expected to submit a methodology explaining how you’ll calculate the foreign-sold EEE on your platform

Reporting timelines for OMPs:

• From entry into force (1 August 2025) through to December 2025.
• Then quarterly, starting January 2026.

Oh, and there’s a £13,500 registration fee, reflecting the increased costs of enforcing these new obligations.

What will this cost obligated producers?

• Vape producers: If you’re already reporting and paying for vapes separately, there shouldn’t be a significant change, just a shift in category.
• OMP operators: You’re looking at **new compliance fees in 2026**, which will cover the recycling of products sold by foreign sellers through your platform. The £13,500 registration fee is also a new cost to budget for.

Timeline at a glance

What should you do now?

• Vape producers: Review your current reporting setup and prepare for the move to Category 7.1
• Online marketplaces: Identify all non-UK sellers using your platform to sell EEE. Start developing a robust methodology for calculating those sales
• All affected parties: Stay ahead of the registration and reporting deadlines, and make sure your systems are up to date

Need support navigating the new WEEE changes?

Whether you’re a vape producer, an online marketplace, or just trying to make sense of the latest regulations, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s how we can help:

WEEE Compliance services

• End-to-end support for registration, reporting, and data submissions
• Clear guidance on what’s in-scope, and how to stay compliant
• Bespoke solutions tailored to your business model
• Trusted by thousands of producers and industry leaders

Vape Take-Back Scheme

If you place vapes or e-cigarettes on the market, you can’t ignore the environmental impact.

We offer a fully compliant take-back solution for vape products, making it easier for retailers and producers to meet their obligations and offer consumers a safe disposal route.

For online marketplaces

Not sure how to track non-UK seller data? Our experts will work with you to develop a robust methodology, manage your Environment Agency registration, and ensure your quarterly reporting is accurate and stress-free.

Get in touch with our Compliance team today.

We’ll help you understand your obligations, reduce the risk of penalties, and make compliance a seamless part of your sustainability strategy.