Crossed-out wheelie bin (WEEE)
Crossed-out wheelie bin (WEEE)
Do not put this in household waste — take it to a separate collection for electrical items or batteries.
What it looks like
A wheeled rubbish bin with a large cross through it, usually with a solid bar underneath.
What it means
This is the second great misreading in this file. The crossed-out bin does not mean the item is unrecyclable; it means the opposite, that it must be kept out of general waste precisely because it can and should be recovered separately. Electricals contain recoverable copper, gold and rare earths alongside mercury, lead and lithium that should never reach landfill. Retailers selling electricals are generally obliged to take the old equivalent back. The solid bar under the bin is a date marker showing the product was placed on the market after August 2005 and so falls under the scheme.
Defined by Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE) / EN 50419. Where a symbol differs between standards, the difference is described above rather than resolved — both versions are in circulation on real labels.
Other electrical and appliance symbols
| Symbol | Means |
|---|---|
| CE mark | The manufacturer declares the product meets the EU rules that apply to it. |
| UKCA mark | The manufacturer declares the product meets Great Britain's rules — the British counterpart to CE. |
| UL Listed | A complete product tested by Underwriters Laboratories against its safety standard. |
| UL Recognized Component | A component certified for use inside a larger product — not a certification of the finished item. |
| FCC mark | The device meets US limits on radio-frequency interference. |
| RoHS compliant | The product restricts ten hazardous substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates. |
| Crossed-out bin with Pb, Cd or Hg | A battery for separate collection which also contains lead, cadmium or mercury above the reporting threshold. |
| Double insulated (Class II) | The appliance is protected by two layers of insulation and needs no earth connection. |
| Protective earth (ground) | This terminal must be connected to the protective earth conductor. |
| IP rating (IP67, IPX4) | How well the enclosure keeps out solids and water. First digit solids 0–6, second digit water 0–9. |
| EU energy label (A to G) | How efficient the appliance is, on a scale from A to G, alongside consumption figures. |
| EnergyGuide label (US) | The estimated annual energy cost of this appliance in the US, and how it compares with the range for its class. |
| Alternating current (AC) | Alternating current. On a power supply it marks the mains input side. |
| Direct current (DC) | Direct current. On a power supply it marks the output side. |
| Barrel jack polarity (centre positive or centre negative) | Which conductor of a barrel plug is positive: the inner pin or the outer sleeve. |
Common questions
- What does the crossed-out wheelie bin (weee) symbol mean?
- Do not put this in household waste — take it to a separate collection for electrical items or batteries.
- What does it look like?
- A wheeled rubbish bin with a large cross through it, usually with a solid bar underneath.
Related pages
- Crossed-out bin with Pb, Cd or Hg A battery for separate collection which also contains lead, cadmium or mercury above the reporting threshold.
- Tidyman Dispose of this thoughtfully. It has nothing to do with recycling.
- RoHS compliant The product restricts ten hazardous substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates.
- CE mark The manufacturer declares the product meets the EU rules that apply to it.
- UKCA mark The manufacturer declares the product meets Great Britain's rules — the British counterpart to CE.
- UL Listed A complete product tested by Underwriters Laboratories against its safety standard.
- UL Recognized Component A component certified for use inside a larger product — not a certification of the finished item.
- FCC mark The device meets US limits on radio-frequency interference.
- RoHS compliant The product restricts ten hazardous substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates.
- Crossed-out bin with Pb, Cd or Hg A battery for separate collection which also contains lead, cadmium or mercury above the reporting threshold.
- Double insulated (Class II) The appliance is protected by two layers of insulation and needs no earth connection.
- Protective earth (ground) This terminal must be connected to the protective earth conductor.
- IP rating (IP67, IPX4) How well the enclosure keeps out solids and water. First digit solids 0–6, second digit water 0–9.
Sources
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place