The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has welcomed the collection rates from January to June 2014 for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), which show that almost half the target collection obligation has been met.

Overall the 2014 data shows that a total of 120,088 tonnes of WEEE was collected during Q2, while 112,503 tonnes were collected during the first quarter of the year.

BIS said the figures were “encouraging”, despite the fact that the UK is currently falling short of its target to collect 490,000 tonnes of WEEE in 2014 – around 122,500 tonnes per quarter.

The figures also show shortfalls in some categories such as Display Equipment (mainly televisions) and Large Domestic Appliances.

A spokesman for BIS said: “The increased collections of cooling and small mixed WEEE compared to last year are welcome, and the drop in display collections appears to be in line with our expectations at the start of the year.”

The latest 2014 data follows the introduction of revised WEEE regulations in January 2014. The changes were brought in as it was alleged that the old legislation was too costly for producers of electrical goods who were obligated to fund the recycling of waste electricals.