Welcome to the WEEE Black Box Website User Guide. Here you'll find everything you need to know about using this website.
If you need any further assistance using this website please contact the WEEE Blackbox Helpdesk on +353-1-417-2228 or at weeeblackbox@deloitte.ie.
Table of Contents
Please click on a link below:
2. WEEE Producer - Making a WEEE Submission
3. Battery Producer - Making a Battery Submission
4. WEEE and BatteryProducer - Making a WEEE & Battery Submission
5. Tyre Producer - Making a Tyre Submission
The EU Directive 2002/96/EC on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) was introduced to ensure a more sustainable approach to managing electrical and electronic waste by increasing the volume of material recycled and reducing the amount sent to landfill.The WEEE Directive requires producers to be responsible for the financing of the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE from 13 August 2005. It means that final users of such household WEEE are entitled to leave that waste back free of charge, either to retail outlets in instances where a replacement item is purchased, or other authorised collection points, including local authority civic amenity sites, from that date onwards.
Under the Directive, all producers or importers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) are required to fund the collection, treatment and environmentally sound management of WEEE from private households and businesses.From the 13th of August 2005 onwards, all EEE distributors must make WEEE submissions to the PRL Blackbox website https://www.prlblackbox.ie/.
The EU Batteries Directive (2006/66/EC) applies to all batteries and accumulators placed on the European Community market. The Directive aims to avoid the final disposal of batteries and accumulators by enhancing their collection and recycling. The Directive also contains restrictions on the substances used in batteries and accumulators. The Batteries Directive aims at as much collection of spent batteries and accumulators (portable, industrial and automotive) as possible.From the 26th of September 2008 onwards, all battery distributors must make battery submissions to the WEEE Blackbox website https://www.prlblackbox.ie/.
Both EEE & Battery submissions are made to the WEEE Blackbox on a monthly basis. All EEE & Battery sales data must be submitted to the PRL Blackbox by 12 midnight on the 19th day of each calendar month for the previous month's data . An exact weightin kilogram's (KG), rather than an estimate, is required when entering monthly data. All registered users should have received a username and password via email in order to log on to the website. If you have not received your log-on details, please contact the PRL Blackbox Helpdesk on +353-1-417-2228.
2. WEEE Producer - Making a Monthly WEEE Submission
- To access the WEEE Blackboxwebsite,type the following link into your internet browser: https://www.prlblackbox.ie/
- The following screen should appear:
- Please enter your username and password into the textboxes highlighted above in red. Then click on the Sign In button. If you wish to clear the text you have entered into either textbox, please click on the ˜Clear button.
Please note, if you have not already received your log-on details, please contact the WEEE Blackbox Helpdesk directly on +353-1-417-2228.
You will then be greeted by a Summary Submission Page shown in the screenshot below.
The Summary Submission page contains the following buttons:
- The Summary Submission Page provides a breakdown of all EEE sales data entered on the WEEE Blackbox.
- The WEEE submissions table, highlighted below in red, outlines the cumulative total weight and the cumulative total quantity of all EEE products recorded on the Blackbox for a reporting month. The table will also highlight the total vEMCs (visible Environmental Management Costs)* of the EEE products recorded on the Blackbox for a reporting month.
[*For a full explanation of vEMC's, please consult Section B3 of our FAQ's.]
Please note: the current status of your WEEE submission is set at "Draft", also highlighted below in red. The status of your WEEE submission must be set at "Complete" in order for your submission to have been entered successfully.
Adding an entry to the submissions table
To enter a product to your monthly WEEE submission click on the "˜Add New Product" button, shown below.
Clicking on this button will display the data entry panel, see screenshot below:
When entering WEEE product information on the WEEE Blackbox, six distinct pieces of information are required:
1. Category - select one of the ten categories from the category dropdown box on the left hand side of the data entry screen.
2. Sub-Category - select the appropriate sub-category item from the Sub Category dropdown box also on the left hand side of the Data Entry screen. The contents of this dropdown are determined by the choice of category made above.
3. Product - select the appropriate product from the product dropdown box. The contents of this dropdown are determined by the choices made in the Category and Sub-Category dropdown boxes.
4. Quantity - Enter the quantity of the product sold
5. Weight - Enter the exact total weight of the EEE goods sold.
6. B2B/B2C - Specify whether the end user of the products was a business (B2B) or a consumer (B2C).
To add the submission to the product
data table, click on the "Add" button.
A one line submission summary should then appear on the right-hand side of the screen in the product data table. Please see screenshot below:
The submission summary should give a breakdown of the following information:
- Category
- Sub-Category
- Product
- Quantity
- Weight (kg)
- B2B/B2C
- Visible Environmental Management Cost (if applicable)
- Exception
'Exceptions'
When a product has been added to the submissions table the WEEE Blackbox performs a check on the details that have been entered. If an exception is identified by the PRL Blackbox the product line will be highlighted in yellow and a yellow icon will appear in the exception column. Exception notification arises if:
a. The weight and/or quantities of a product exceeds by 100% the submissions or quantities submitted for the prior month.
b. The average weight (weight divided by quantity) of each product exceeds by +/- 20% the average weight in the previous month's submission.
c. The average weight of each product exceeds the min and max average weights for that product category.
Exceptions that are identified at the 'Save as Complete' stage are displayed and highlighted in an exception summary page. Again, the user can see details of why an exception has been raised by clicking on the yellow icon in the 'Exception' column. The user is given the option to return to '˜Submissions' and edit the details, or proceed with the submission and save the details as part of the current months submission.
Please Note: When an exception is identified it does not prevent a user from saving their data. It merely highlights that a certain exception has been identified and offers the user a chance to reassess their submission details.
Deleting an entry from the product data table
- The "Delete" button, shown below, is used to delete a record from the product data table
Clicking on this button will cause the following warning message to appear:
If you wish to delete the selected entry, please select 'OK'. If you do not wish to delete the selected entry, please select 'Cancel'.
-
To hide the data entry panel on the
left-hand side of the screen
,
please click on the 'Hide' button, shown below.
Copying Last Months Details
To copy all the details of last month's WEEE submission, click on the 'Copy Last Months Details' button shown below:
Selecting this button copies all the product details from the previous month into the product data table for the current month. The quantities and weights can then be manually edited as required for the current reporting month by clicking on the figure you wish to change. Please ignore this button if you are making WEEE submission for the first time.
Saving your Submission as Draft
To save your WEEE submission as draft, click on the 'Save As Draft' button, shown below:
Clicking on this button will save all information in the product data table, leaving the product data table in "edit mode" so that changes can be made to a submission before sending the information to the WEEE Blackbox.
Finalising your monthly Submission as Complete
To save your WEEE submission as complete, please click on the 'Save As Complete' button, shown below.
Clicking on '˜Save as Complete' saves all WEEE information in the product data table as a final submission for the month. The user will not be able to edit the data (or add new data) for this month after this button has been selected.
Please note: Producers who have not placed any EEE on the market during a month must make a zero submission on the PRL Blackbox by clicking 'Save as Complete' ,so as to inform the PRL Blackbox of a zero entry for the month.
3. Making a Monthly Battery Submission
- To access the PRL Blackbox website, type the following link into your internet browser: https://www.prlblackbox.ie/.
- The following screen should appear:
- Please enter your username and password into the textboxes highlighted above in red. Then click on the 'Sign In' button. If you wish to clear the text you have entered into either textbox, please click on the 'Clear' button.
Please note, if you have not already received your log-on details, please contact the PRL Blackbox Helpdesk directly on +353-1-417-2228.
You will then be greeted by a Summary Submission Page shown in the screenshot below.
The submission screen is used for submitting the weight and chemistry of batteries placed on the market by the producer for the reporting period in question.
Month-end drop down
The Month end drop down is set by default to the current reporting period. The screen shot above shows the current reporting period as January 09. Producers can select prior reporting periods on the drop down to view and print previous submissions
Waste Batteries Total Submissions Table
The Waste Batteries Total submissions table circled above in red shows the total weight of battery products recorded on the Blackbox for an individual producer for the chosen reporting month and the month prior to the selected month.
WEEE and Battery Producers will also see a summary table relating to their EEE submissions. In addition to showing total weight, it will also show the total volume submitted and the applicable total vEMC charge.
Status
Your submissions Status is also displayed on the screen. The status of a submission will always be displayed as "Draft" until you have saved your submission as complete. If the month end drop down is set at the current reporting month and the status displayed is '˜Complete' then you have successfully completed your submission for the current reporting period.
If the status displayed is not "Complete"then you have not completed your submission for the current reporting period.
Submission Page Functionality
This Submissions page contains the buttons and link shown below, which are further explained in this section. Apart form the "Print Submission" button these features can only be used in the current reporting period.
Adding an entry to the submissions table
If you know the weight in kilograms and
the chemistry of the battery/batteries that you need
If you do not know the weight and or the chemistry of the battery(s) that you need to record on the WEEE Blackbox, click on the link shown below. This will bring you to the Batcon.ie application for converting Battery volumes in to weights and chemistries. A separate user guide for BatCon.ie is available in the help section of the Batcon.ie website -- www.batcon.ie.
Please note: If you are adding some batteries to your submission using the Battery Conversion Tool and some using the "Add New Product" feature you should use the Battery Conversion tool first. This is because all battery information that is exported from the battery conversion tool will overwrite batteries that have already been added to the submissions screen.
'Add New Product' button
Clicking on the '˜Add New Product' button will display the data entry panel:
Category Dropdown
Battery only producers can only make a submission in Category 11, Batteries; therefore this is the only option that is available for selection in the category drop-down.
(WEEE and Battery producers will be able to select form categories 1-11 in the '˜Category' dropdown. To make a battery weight and chemistry submission the user should select Category 11, Batteries.)
2. Sub-Category Dropdown
Producers should select from the following options to categorise their batteries:
- 11.1 - Portable batteries Non-rechargeable,
- 11.1 - Portable Batteries Re-chargeable,
- 11.2 - Automotive Batteries, and
- 11.3 - Industrial Batteries.
This is illustrated in the screenshot below:
Please note: The following decision tree can be used by producers to classify their battery weights into an appropriate sub-category.
3. Chemistry Dropdown
Select the relevant chemistry from the 'Chemistry' dropdown box. The contents of this dropdown are determined by the choices made in the 'Category' and 'Sub-Category' dropdown boxes. Please see screenshot below:
The Battery chemistries currently set up in the PRL Blackbox are:
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Category |
Sub-Category |
Chemistry |
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11 Batteries |
11.1 Portable Batteries - Non Rechargeable |
11.1.1 Alkaline |
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11.1.2 Lithium |
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11.1.3 Zinc Carbon |
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11.1.4 Zinc Air |
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11.1.5 Mercuric Oxide |
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11.1.6 Silver Oxide |
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11.1.7 Other |
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11 Batteries |
11.1 Portable Batteries - Rechargeable |
11.1.11 Nickel Cadmium |
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11.1.12 Lead |
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11.1.13 Nickel Metal Hydride |
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11.1.14 Lithium Ion |
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11.1.15 Lithium Polymer |
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11.1.16 Other |
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11 Batteries |
11.2 Automotive Batteries |
11.2.1 Lead Acid |
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11.2.2 Nickel Cadmium |
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11.2.3 Other |
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11 Batteries |
11.3 Industrial Batteries |
11.3.1 Lead Acid |
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11.3.2 Nickel Cadmium |
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11.3.3 Nickel Metal Hydride |
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11.3.4 Alkaline |
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11.3.5 Lithium Ion |
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11.3.6 Zinc Carbon |
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11.3.7 Zinc Air |
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11.3.8 Other |
4. Total Weight (Kg)
Manually enter the total weight of the batteries placed on the marked during the relevant reporting month.
To add the selected details to your submission click on the 'Add' button highlighted below.
This will transfer the details to the right hand side of the screen. The weight entered will also be added to the "Waste Batteries Total Weight" table.
The submission summary gives a short breakdown of the following information:
- Category
- Sub-Category
- Chemistry
- Weight (kg)
You can add further entries to your submission by following the same steps outlined above.
Once you have finished with the "Add New Product" feature you can press the "Hide" button to hide the data entry panel.
Deleting an entry from the product data table
The "Delete" button is used to delete a record from the table that has been added in error. Clicking on this button will cause a warning message to appear:
If you wish to delete the selected entry, please select "OK". If you do not wish to delete the selected entry, please select "Cancel".
Copying last Months Details
To copy all the details of last month's battery submission, click on the 'Copy Last Months Details' button shown below.
Please note: This feature will not function when you are making your first submission on the WEEE Blackbox.
Copying last months details will copy all the weight and chemistry details that were entered in the previous month to the submissions screen in the current month. Once copied, copied line items can be removed using the "Delete" feature and new line items can be added using the "Add New Product" button.
Battery Weights can be manually edited as required by the user prior to saving their submission as complete. To do this, you should simply highlight the figure you wish to change and manually enter the new figure.
To save manually edited details you must click on the "Save as Draft" or "Save as Complete" button.
Saving your Submission as Draft
To save your battery submission as draft, click on the "Save as Draft" button, shown below:
Clicking on this button will save all of the Battery Chemistry and Weight information that has been included on the submissions screen. Once a producer has saved as draft they can log out and return to the submission to make any necessary or required changes. Information which has been saved as draft after a reporting period has been closed will NOT be added as part of your submission and will be deleted automatically.
Finalising your monthly Submission as Complete
To save your battery submission as complete, please click on the '˜Save as Complete' button, shown below.
Clicking on 'Save as Complete' saves all battery information on the "Submissions" screen as a final submission for the current month. The user will not be able to edit the data (or add new data) for this month after this button has been selected.
Please note: Producers who have not placed any battery on the market during a month must make a zero submission on the PRL Blackbox by clicking 'Save as Complete' ,so as to inform the PRL Blackbox of a zero entry for the month.
Printing Your Final Submission
Clicking on the print Submission' button will direct the user to a page where he/she can view their submission details in a printable format.
This button will only be available after the user has saved his/her submission as complete. If the submission is still in 'Draft' status, the button will be unavailable and greyed out, as shown below:
'Exceptions' and Monitoring of Submissions
The WEEE Blackbox automatically performs a number of checks on a producer's submission details. These checks are performed when a product is added using the "Add" button or when details are saved using the "Save as Draft" or "Save as Complete" Buttons. When an exception is identified it does not prevent a user from saving their data.
For battery submissions there is only one "Exception" check performed.
The PRL Blackbox will check a producer's submission to determine whether the total weight, of each battery chemistry, exceeds that of the prior month's submission for the same chemistry by 100% or more.
Any exceptions which are identified prior to saving as complete are highlighted in yellow in the summary panel. Information as to why an exception has been raised can be found by clicking on the yellow icon in the 'Exception' column.
Exceptions that are identified at the 'Save as Complete' stage are displayed and highlighted in an exception summary page. At this stage you have the option toreturn to the "Submissions" page and edit the details by clicking on the "Return to Submission" button or proceeding with your submission and save the details as part of the current months submission by clicking on the "Proceed" button.
4. WEEE and Battery Producer - Making a WEEE and Battery Submission.
- To access the PRL Blackbox website, type the following link into your internet browser: https://www.prlblackbox.ie/.
- The following screen should appear:
- Please enter your username and password into the textboxes highlighted above in red. Then click on the '˜Sign In' button. If you wish to clear the text you have entered into either textbox, please click on the 'Clear' button.
Please note, if you have not already received your log-on details, please contact the PRL Blackbox Helpdesk directly on +353-1-417-2228.
You will then be greeted by a Summary Submission Page shown in the screenshot below:
The WEEE submissions table, highlighted above in red, outlines the cumulative total weight and the cumulative total quantity of all EEE products recorded on the Blackbox for a reporting month. The table also highlights the total vEMC's (visible Environmental Management Costs)* of the EEE products recorded on the Blackbox for a reporting month.
[*For a full explanation of vEMC's, please consult Section B3 of our FAQ's]
The battery submissions table , also highlighted above in red, outlines the cumulative total weight of all battery products recorded on the Blackbox for a reporting month.
Please note: the current status of your monthly submission is set at 'Draft', also highlighted above in red. The status of your WEEE submission must be set at 'Complete' in order for your submission to have been entered successfully.
Batcon.ie link
The Summary Submission page also contains a link to the Battery Conversion website. This conversion tool can be used if you do not know the weight in kilograms and/or the chemistry of the battery/batteries you need to record on the WEEE Blackbox. Details on how to use the Battery Conversion Tool are provided in a separateuser guide.
Adding an entry to the submissions table
If you know the weight in kilograms and the chemistry of the battery/batteries that you need to record on the WEEE Blackbox, click on the 'Add New Product' button, shown below.
Clicking on this button will display the data entry panel, shown below.
WEEE Submissions
When entering WEEE product information on the WEEE Blackbox, six distinct pieces of information are required:
1. Category - Categories 1-10 are WEEE only categories. Select one of the ten categories from the category dropdown box shown in the data entry panel.
2. Sub-Category - select the appropriate sub-category item from the Sub-Category dropdown box in the data entry panel. The contents of this dropdown are determined by the choice of category made above.
3. Product - select the appropriate product from the product dropdown box. The contents of this dropdown are determined by the choices made in the Category and Sub-Category dropdown boxes.
4. Quantity - Enter the number of EEE product units sold during the reporting month.
5. Weight - Enter the exact total weight of the EEE product sold during the reporting month.
6. B2B/B2C - Specify whether the end user of the products was a business (B2B) or a consumer (B2C).
Battery Submissions
When entering Battery product information on the WEEE Blackbox, four distinct pieces of information are required:
1.Category- Please select category '11 Batteries' in the data entry panel.
2. Sub-Category - Select the appropriate sub-category item from the Sub Category dropdown box in the data entry panel. Please see screenshot below:
3. Chemistry - Select the chemistry from the 'Chemistry' dropdown box. The contents of this dropdown are determined by the choices made in the Category and Sub-Category dropdown boxes. Please see screenshot below:
4. Total Weight (Kg) - Manually enter the exact total weight of the batteries placed on the marked during the relevant reporting month.
-
To add the submission to the product
data table, click on the '˜Add' button.
A one line submission summary should then appear on the right-hand side of the screen in the product data table. Please see screenshot below:
The submission summary should give a breakdown of the following information:
- Category
- Sub-Category
- Product
- Quantity
- Weight (kg)
- B2B/B2C
- Visible Environmental Management Cost (if applicable)
- Exception
'Exceptions' and Monitoring of Submissions
The WEEE Blackbox automatically performs a number of checks on a producer's submission details. These checks are performed when a product is added using the "Add" button" or when details are saved using the "Save as Draft" or "Save as Complete" Buttons. When an exception is identified it does not prevent a user from saving their data.
ForWEEEsubmissions a notification of an exception arises if:
- The weight and/or quantities of a product exceeds by 100% the submissions or quantities submitted for the prior month.
- The average weight (weight divided by quantity) of each product exceeds by +/- 20% the average weight in the previous month's submission.
- The average weight of each product exceeds the min and max average weights for that product category.
For battery submissions there is only one 'Exception' check performed.
- The PRL Blackbox will check a producer's submission to determine whether the total weight, of each battery chemistry, exceeds that of the prior month's submission for the same chemistry by 100% or more.
Any exceptions which are identified prior to saving as complete are highlighted in yellow in the summary panel. Information as to why an exception has been raised can be found by clicking on the yellow icon in the Exception column.
Exceptions that are identified at the "Save as Complete" stage are displayed and highlighted in an exception summary page. At this stage you have the option to return to the "Submissions" page and edit the details by clicking on the "Return to Submission2 button or proceeding with your submission and save the details as part of the current months submission by clicking on the "Proceed" button.
Deleting Entries from the Product Data Table
The "Delete" button, shown below, is
used to delete a record from the product data table.
Clicking on this button will cause the following warning message to appear:
If you wish to delete the selected entry, please select 'OK'. If you do not wish to delete the selected entry, please select 'Cancel'.
-
To hide the data entry panel on the
left-hand side of the screen
,
please click on the 'Hide' button, shown below.
Copying Last Months Details
To copy all the details of last month's WEEE/Battery submission, click on the 'Copy Last Months Details' button shown below:
Selecting this button copies all the product details from the previous month into the product data table for the current month. The quantities/weights can then be manually edited as required for the current reporting month by clicking on the figure you wish to change. Please ignore this button if you are making WEEE/Battery submissions for the first time.
Saving your Submission as Draft
To save your WEEE/Battery submission as draft, click on the 'Save As Draft' button, shown below:
Clicking on this button will save all information in the product data table, leaving the product data table in "edit mode" so that changes can be made to a submission before sending the information to the WEEE Blackbox.
Finalising your monthly Submission as Complete
To save your WEEE/Battery submission as complete, please click on the 'Save AsComplete' button, shown below.
Clicking on 'Save as Complete' saves all WEEE/Battery information in the product data table as a final submission for the month.The user will not be able to edit the data (or add new data) for this month after this button has been selected.
Please note: Producers who have not placed any EEE/Batteries on the market during a month must make a zero submission on the WEEE Blackboxby clicking 'Save as Complete',so as toinform the PRL Blackbox of a zero entry for the month.
5. Tyre Producer - Making a Tyre Submission
For full details on how to make a tyre submission, click the link below:
Making a Tyre Submission
To update your profile or change your PRL Blackbox password click on 'My Profile' circled below in red:
Clicking on 'My Profile' will allow you to edit your PRL Blackbox password and your company details.
To edit your password, type your current password into the 'Current Password' text field. Then, enter the password of your choice into the 'New Password' textbox and the 'Confirm New Password' textboxes.When you are happy with the information provided, please click on the 'Save' button, circled below in red.
To edit your company's details , please edit your company's details found in the screenshot below.
Please note, you must input at least one valid contact email address, one PRL Blackbox contact name, and one valid contact phone number for your company.
- To log out of the WEEE Blackbox , please click on the 'Log Out' icon circled below in red.
The following warning message will then appear:
If you wish to log out of the WEEE Blackbox, please click on 'Logout'. If you do not wish to log out of the WEEE Blackbox, please click on any one of the following icons:
Please note: you will be automatically logged out of the PRL Blackbox after twenty minutes of inactivity.