WEEE: The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

The amount of WEEE generated in the Community is growing rapidly. The content of hazardous components is electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is a major concern during the waste management phase and recycling of WEEE is not undertaken to sufficient extent. The objective of improving the management of WEEE cannot be achieved effectively by Member States acting individually. In particular, different national applications of the producer responsibility principle may lead to substantial disparities in the financial burden on economic operators. Having different national policies on the management of WEEE hampers the effectiveness of recycling policies. For that reason the essential criteria should be laid down at Community level. Specific treatment for WEEE is indispensable in order to avoid the dispersion of pollutants into the recycled material or the waste stream. Such treatment is the most effective means of ensuring compliance with the chosen level of protection of the environment of the Community.