Brussels,

Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE or e-waste) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU. It includes everything from mobile phones, computers, and TVs, to household appliances, lamps, medical devices, and photovoltaic panels.
  • E-waste contains hazardous substances that can cause serious environmental and health problems if not managed properly.

  • It also contains rare and expensive resources, including critical raw materials, which can be recycled and reused to improve the EU’s strategic autonomy.

Objectives

EU legislation on WEEE aims to:
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  1. Prevent the creation of WEEE and encourage reusability.
  2. Promote efficient resource use and retrieval of secondary raw materials (through recycling and recovery).
  3. Improve the environmental performance of all actors involved in an EEE’s life cycle.
  • 14.4 million tonnes of electrical & electronic equipment were put on the EU market.
  • 5 million tonnes of WEEE were collected.
  • 11.2 kg of e-waste were collected per person.

Legislative Framework

​WEEE Directive
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​RoHS Directive

Implementation

Implementation of the WEEE Directive
  • Provides guidelines and tools for WEEE data collection, reporting, and treatment standards.
  • Includes details on calculation methodologies, harmonised formats, and best practices for Member States.

Timeline