Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are discarded electronic products of various sizes and purposes, such as computers, smartphones, household appliances or consumer electronics. They can contain a variety of critical raw materials such as lithium, rare earths, cobalt or nickel and also pose a potential environmental hazard due to their sometimes hazardous ingredients. Environmentally sound disposal and an efficient circular economy are therefore essential in order to avoid environmental pollution and recover resources.
All electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market in the EU must be labeled to indicate that the product must not be disposed of with unsorted municipal waste [1].
Figure 1: Labeling of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) [1].
The WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU) was created in Europe with the aim of conserving resources and minimizing environmental pollution. It regulates the collection, reuse, recycling and environmentally sound disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment [2].
WEEE in Europe
The WEEE Directive is a central component of the European waste management strategy. The directive sets binding collection and recycling rates and requires EU member states to set up separate collection systems. Since 2019, a minimum collection rate of 65% of the average weight of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market in the three previous years in the member state concerned has applied. Alternatively, 85% of the WEEE generated in the respective Member State applies [3].
However, implementation varies between EU member states. Countries such as Germany and Belgium have already established nationwide collection and recycling structures, while other countries face challenges such as a lack of infrastructure and insufficient data [4]
WEEE in Germany
Germany is one of the pioneers in the EU in implementing the WEEE Directive. National legislation is governed by the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG), which makes manufacturers responsible. Manufacturers must register with the EAR Foundation and document the appliances they place on the market and how they take them back and treat them [3], [4].
In 2022, over 900,000 tons of WEEE were collected in Germany. Large quantities were accounted for by large and small appliances, which achieve recycling rates of over 85% [5].
Nevertheless, there are still challenges in dealing with old electrical appliances. The constantly growing number of new electrical appliances should also be reflected in an increasing collection volume of old appliances. This requires an expansion of return options as well as more efficient collection and recycling structures. In addition, combating unregistered producers (“free riders”) and controlling the export of used appliances, particularly illegal exports, remains a key task [4], [6].
Global perspective
The EU WEEE Directive not only has an impact within the EU, but also worldwide. One of the key effects is the export control of WEEE. Stricter requirements in the EU, such as the traceability and treatment of old appliances, make illegal exports to countries outside the EU more difficult [3], [5]. The WEEE Directive is being sharpened and supported by the new EU regulation on shipments of waste. Overall, shipments for disposal of certain waste, in particular hazardous waste and therefore WEEE, are to be made more difficult in order to comply with the waste hierarchy [7].
Although the WEEE Directive applies exclusively in the European Union, numerous countries in Europe and beyond have introduced their own comparable regulations. On the European continent, for example, similar legislation exists in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway [8]. Countries such as Turkey, individual states in the USA, Japan and emerging economies such as Brazil are also developing their own regulations for placing WEEE on the market and taking it back [8].
Conclusion
The correct handling of WEEE is key to the sustainable use of resources. The European WEEE Directive shows how clear targets and cooperation can make progress possible. At the same time, the global context requires increased international efforts to create equal standards and fair conditions for all. Further innovations such as a digital product passport, as developed in the CE-RISE project, can improve transparency about material composition and recycling options. This facilitates the collection and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment and contributes to increasing collection and recycling rates in the long term.
References
[1] Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. “WEEE label: What does the label mean.” Accessed: Feb. 6, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/product-requirements/labels-markings/weee-label/index_en.htm
[2] Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). “Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment: WEEE Directive.” Directives | Directive 2012/19/EU. Accessed: Feb. 6, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bmuv.de/gesetz/richtlinie-2012-19-eu-ueber-elektro-und-elektronik-altgeraete
[3] European Parliament (EP), DIRECTIVE 2012/19/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of July 4, 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE): WEEE II EU Directive, 2012.
[4] EUROPEAN COMISSION and EUROSTAT, Eds., “Country-specific notes on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE),” Oct. 2023.
[5] Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), Ed., “Daten zu Elektro- und Elektronikgeräten in Deutschland aus den Jahr 2022,” Berlin, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.bmuv.de/fileadmin/Daten_BMU/Download_PDF/Abfallwirtschaft/elektronikgeraete_daten_2022_bf.pdf
[6] Federal Environment Agency (UBA). “Waste electrical and electronic equipment: Current challenges.” Accessed: Feb. 6, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/abfall-ressourcen/produktverantwortung-in-der-abfallwirtschaft/elektroaltgeraete#elektronikaltgerate-in-deutschland
[7] Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). “Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 on shipments of waste – BMUV – Laws and Regulations.” Accessed: Feb. 6, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bmuv.de/gesetz/verordnung-eu-2024-1157-ueber-die-verbringung-von-abfaellen?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[8] hesselmann service GmbH. “WEEE EU – The new Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG, WEEE) 2025.” Accessed: Feb. 6, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.elektrogesetz.de/themen/weee-eu/