EU rules on treating waste electrical and electronic equipment, to contribute to sustainable production and consumption.
The amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (widely known as WEEE or e-waste) generated every year in the EU is increasing rapidly. It is now one of the fastest growing waste streams.
EU rules on WEEE aim to contribute to sustainable production and consumption. They address environmental and other issues caused by the growing number of discarded electronics in the EU.
Waste from electrical and electronic equipment includes a large range of devices such as computers, fridges and mobile phones at the end of their life. This type of waste contains a complex mixture of materials, some of which are hazardous. These can cause major environmental and health problems if the discarded devices are not managed properly.
In addition, modern electronics contain rare and expensive resources, which can be recycled and re-used if the waste is effectively managed.Improving the collection, treatment and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) at the end of their life can.
Improve sustainable production and consumption.
Increase resource efficiency.
Contribute to the circular economy.
The WEEE directive aims to contribute to sustainable production and consumption by
Preventing the creation of WEEE as a first priority.
Contributing to the efficient use of resources and the retrieval of secondary raw materials through re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery.
Improving the environmental performance of everyone involved in the life cycle of EEE.
In order to achieve these objectives, the Directive
Requires the separate collection and proper treatment of WEEE and sets targets for their collection as well as for their recovery and recycling.
Helps European countries fight illegal waste exports more effectively by making it harder for exporters to disguise illegal shipments of WEEE.
Reduces the administrative burden by calling for the harmonisation of national EEE registers and of the reporting format.
