Rules on electric waste

Improved rules on the collection and treatment of electric waste entered into force on 13th August 2012.   Currently only one third of electrical and electronic waste in the EU is separately collected within the documented system.

The Directive introduces a collection target of 45% of electronic equipment sold that will apply from 2016 and, as a second step from 2019, a target of 65% of equipment sold, or 85% of electronic waste generated.

  • Member States will be able to choose which one of these two equivalent ways to measure the target they wish to report.

The new Directive will oblige exporters to test whether equipment works or not, and provide documents on the nature of shipments that could be thought illegal.

  • By 14 February 2014 at the latest, Member States will have to amend their existing legislation on WEEE and align it with the new Directive and the new targets.
  • From 2016 onwards, Member States will be required to ensure that 45 % of electrical and electronic equipment sold in each country is collected.
  • From 2018 onwards, the scope of the Directive is widened from today’s categories to all electrical and electronic equipment.
  • From 2019 onwards, the collection target is raised to 65% of electrical and electronic equipment sold, or the alternative measure of 8 % of WEEE generated.

EU environment Recast of the WEEE Directive 

EU Press 

ECOS Environmental Consultants Limited

#ecos