Online marketplaces are now legally recognised as producers under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations, following new measures introduced on 12 August 2025.
Already in scope for packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) since 2024, marketplaces must now also meet obligations relating to the collection and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment sold through their platforms.
According to the UK Government, online marketplaces (OMPs) are UK based businesses that operate a website or app enabling non-UK sellers to offer goods to UK consumers.
UK based sellers that use OMPs must cover their own WEEE obligations, therefore OMPs are required to cover, and hold the responsibility of a ‘producer’, for non-UK sellers on their platforms.
Products sold directly through a company’s own website, under the same company name, fall under WEEE compliance obligations. This applies even if the company is UK-based, as such sales are treated separately from Online Marketplace (OMP) regulations. In this case, the online retailer is considered the ‘producer’.
The update means that online marketplaces will now be required to finance the collection, treatment, recovery and recycling of electrical products sold through their platforms, where the original seller is not already compliant under UK WEEE law.
Previously, these obligations, including registration, data reporting, and end-of-life recycling, sat with individual producers or importers. However, the rapid rise of cross-border e-commerce has allowed many non-UK sellers to place electrical items on the UK market without fulfilling their environmental responsibilities.
This regulatory change aims to close that gap and tackle the issue of sellers operating outside of the UK compliance framework. By extending responsibility to the marketplaces themselves, the Government intends to create a fairer and more consistent system for UK producers that already meet their environmental obligations.
This reform builds on earlier pEPR measures introduced in 2024, which brought online marketplaces into scope for packaging placed on the UK market. Together, these changes form part of the UK’s broader strategy to ensure that every actor in the supply chain contributes fairly to managing the environmental impact of their products.
Since August 2025, online marketplaces are required to:
Failure to meet these requirements could result in enforcement action by the Environment Agency or Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).
As regulatory reforms continue across packaging, WEEE, and batteries, it is increasingly important for both producers and marketplaces to understand their obligations and maintain accurate reporting data.
At Clarity, we’re committed to helping businesses navigate these evolving requirements and stay compliant as the UK moves toward a more comprehensive system of Extended Producer Responsibility.
For advice or support with WEEE compliance, contact our team at info@clarity.eco or complete the form below.
