The WEEE Directive aims to ensure the proper management of e-waste by setting certain targets to reach at a national level, which regions and cities should contribute to. Therefore, the targets and principles set out in this Directive impact how regional and local authorities collect, treat, store and manage waste from electrical and electronic equipment.

For WEEE from private households, municipalities must ensure the availability and accessibility of the necessary separate collection facilities (Art. 5). The Directive also sets minimum rates for separate collection based on the amount of equipment placed on the market (Art. 7). WEEE that has been received by collection and treatment facilities, and distributors separately collected by producers or third parties acting on their behalf is all considered when establishing whether the minimum collection rate has been achieved by a Member State. Member States must also ensure a proper treatment of WEEE (Art. 8). EU countries shall ensure that producers or third parties acting on their behalf set up systems to provide for the recovery of WEEE using the best available techniques. The Directive also prohibits the disposal of untreated WEEE and calls for monitoring to prevent illegal shipments of untreated e-waste to third countries (Art. 6; Art. 10). Minimum recovery and recycling targets are also set for EEE categories covered by the Directive: large household appliances; small household appliances; IT and telecommunications equipment; consumer equipment and photovoltaic panels; lighting equipment; electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools); toys; leisure and sports equipment; medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products); monitoring and control instruments; and automatic dispensers (Art. 11).

The targets are in line with the producer responsibility principle, meaning that manufacturers, distributers or sellers of electrical and electronic equipment must contribute to achieving these targets by ensuring EEE is disposed of and treated properly. Member States are obliged to ensure that authorities, third parties or producers keep records of collection, recovery and treatment to ensure that the targets are met (Art. 11).

The Commission is currently evaluating the WEEE Directive. This evaluation will assess whether the Directive is still fit for purpose, explore possibilities to simplify the Directive, and determine whether a review is needed.

More information on EU rules on treating waste electrical and electronic equipment can be found here: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-electrical-and-electronic-equipment-weee_en

This study published by the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) provides insights into the transposition of the 2012 WEEE Directive in Europe: http://www.solarwaste.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/study-transposition-of-2012-weee-directive-europe.pdf

The Solar Waste website also features country-specific information plus other WEEE-related information: http://www.solarwaste.eu/in-your-country/

Recent Eurostat data suggests only three EU countries met the WEEE collection targets in 2019. However, one common impact of this Directive is that there are now producer responsibility organisations in most regions. A positive example is the French repair fund, which makes repair cheaper through eco-modulated Extended producer responsibility schemes, thus prolonging product lifetime and reducing e-waste.

• Date of document: 04/07/2012
• Date of effect: 13/08/2012; Entry into force Date pub. +20 See Art 26
• Date of transposition: 14/02/2014; At the latest See Art 24
• Date of end of validity: No end date