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	1. What is WEEE anyway?
	WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment – and that means more or less anything with a plug or a battery that you no longer need. It includes all sorts of everyday electrical and electronic items, from old washing machines, vacuum cleaners or coffee machines through to computers, table lamps and even some children’s toys.

	2. What’s this about a new law?
	That’ll be the WEEE regulations. They came fully into force in July 2007. They’re rules designed to make all of us – consumers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers – take a more responsible attitude to the electrical and electronic goods we throw away.

	3. How big is the problem?
	It’s the fastest growing waste mountain in the European Union. Last year in the UK we dumped two million tonnes of the stuff in landfill. A lot of that was large household appliances, known as ‘white goods’. It’s taking up valuable land and it’s harming our environment.

	4. I’ve noticed a new symbol on some products. What does it mean?
	That’s the crossed out wheelie bin logo. Every new electrical or electronic product has to be labelled with it. Anything carrying the symbol cannot be thrown out with the rest of the household rubbish. It must be disposed of separately.

	5. So, who’s responsible for disposing of my old fridge?
	If you’re buying a new fridge, the answer is, the retailer. Anyone who sells or distributes electrical and electronic equipment – in store or online – has to offer customers a free way of getting rid of their old equipment, when they buy the equivalent new item.

	6. How will that work?
	Retailers can run their own takeback schemes or join in the national scheme. Both run on a ‘like for like’ basis. You take back an old kettle when you buy a new kettle, an old fridge when you buy a new one, and so on. If retailers are part of the national scheme, they will give you information about free local collection facilities. If they are running their own scheme, they will take back equivalent items in the store.

	7. What about heavy items?
	Don’t worry, you’re not expected to carry your old washing machine back to the shop! For bulky goods, retailers have to offer a ‘collection on delivery’ service, taking away an old item of equipment when they deliver a similar new one. They can choose whether or not to charge you for this.

	8. So, what is free?
	The takeback service – which includes the transport of the waste equipment from the retail premises to the treatment plant, its storage, treatment and recycling – is absolutely free to consumers.

	9. Can I take my old electrical and electronic goods to the local tip?
	Yes, if it’s a designated collection facility. There may be one of these special collection points at your local waste recycling centre. You can either take the items yourself, or arrange for them to be collected and taken there. You may be charged for a collection service.

	10. What happens after my old stuff is taken away? Is it recycled?
	Wherever possible, items are refurbished and reused, and recyclable materials recovered. What’s left is disposed of in an environmentally safe way. The whole aim of the new regulations is cut the amount we send to landfill.

	11. Is it worth the bother?
	If you care about our environment, it is. The new regulations are part of a move towards encouraging all of us to reduce the amount of waste we create, and reuse, recover and recycle more. That includes WEEE.

	12. What else can I do?
	Buy good quality, longer-lasting electrical and electronic goods in the first place. They may cost you more but they’ll last longer. In the long term they’re better for your pocket and better for the environment.

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Miele Data Security Policy

Our customers' right to the security of their personal data supplied to us via the web site is of paramount importance. It is therefore Miele's strict policy not to collect any personally identifiable information without consent.

1. Use of personally identifiable information

Miele will only collect personally identifiable information, such as your name, address, email address, telephone number or fax number, for the purpose for which you provided the data (e.g. to process requests for information or brochures and to process orders) or to give you news of Miele promotions and new products.
• This data is used to provide information and services which are
tailored to your requirements and to continually improve the quality of our offering.
• Your personally identifiable data will only be used within the
Miele group and by business partners who are commissioned by us to fulfill your request

Miele will exercise utmost diligence to protect your personal data. Thus, personally identifiable information which is collected while you browse our websites will always comply in full with the legislation which applies in the country in which the website is administered.

2. Technologies

Miele uses Internet technologies (e.g. cookies, javascript) for the sole purpose of making Internet applications easier to use.

In order to improve the attractiveness of our websites, information is retrieved automatically in a limited number of cases (e.g. browser, operating system, click count, average time spent per page). This information is collected in such a manner as not to be personally identifiable.

3. Security

Miele guarantees to safeguard your personally identifiable information against loss, damage, corruption, manipulation, unauthorised access and unauthorised disclosure.

4. Hyperlinks to other websites

Cross-references (so called hyperlinks) on Miele websites may connect to Internet sites run by other companies. Miele cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for the content of such sites or their data security policies.

5. Data security issues

If you have any questions regarding Miele's Data Security please do not hesitate to contact our webmaster at webmaster@miele.co.uk

Further developments in Internet technologies will, of course, impact on our data security strategy. Should there be any need to modify our policy, timely notification of changes will be given on this website.

6. Our use of cookies

The Miele website uses Google Analytics to help analyse how users use the site. This analytical tool uses 'cookies', which are text files placed on your computer, to collect standard internet log information and visitor behaviour information in an anonymous form. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) is transmitted to Google. This information is then used to evaluate visitors use of the website and to compile statistical reports on website activity for Miele.

Miele will not (and will not allow any third party) to use the statistical analytics tool to track or to collect any personally identifiable information of visitors to our site. We will not associate any data gathered from this site with any personally identifying information from any source as part of our use of the Google statistical analytics tool. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. Neither Miele nor Google will link, or seek to link, an IP address with the identity of a computer user.

7. Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information given is correct.
However, due to continuous product improvement, Miele reserves the right to make changes to products and technical data without prior notice.