WEEE Directive

Key points to know the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive for the reduction of electronic waste

The WEEE Directive (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) is an EU legislation that aims to reduce the negative environmental impact of electronic waste. Here are some key points you need to know about the WEEE Directive:

Categories of EEE covered by WEEE:

1. Temperature exchange equipment.
2. Displays, monitors and equipment containing screens with a surface area of more than 100 cm2.
3. Lamps.
4. Large equipment (any external dimension greater than 50 cm).
5. Small equipment (no external dimension greater than 50 cm).
6. Small IT and telecommunications equipment (no external dimension greater than 50 cm).

Objectives of the WEEE Directive:

• Producers must register with the national regulatory authorities of each EU country in which the product is sold and report the sales volumes of each type of product.
• Producers should organise or participate in a system for the collection of end-of-life EEE for recovery, reusability and recyclability purposes.
• EEE should be marked with a crossed-out trash symbol.
• Producers must meet the objectives of recovery, reuse and recyclability of WEEE.

Objectives for the recovery, reuse and recyclability of WEEE:

• For WEEE in Annex III categories 1 or 4, 85 % shall be recovered and 80 % prepared for reuse and recycling.
• For Annex III category 2 WEEE, 80 % shall be recovered and 70 % prepared for reuse and recycling.
• For WEEE in Annex III categories 5 or 6, 75 % shall be recovered and 55 % prepared for reuse and recycling.
• For Annex III category 3 WEEE, 80% will be recycled.

How ComplyMarket can help you:

The ComplyMarket team can help you meet the WEEE Directive's recoverability, reusability and recyclability goals by helping you design and review your products. Our experts use the following material efficiency standards:

• EN 45555:2019 'General methods for assessing the recyclability and recovery of energy-related products'
• EN 45556:2019 'General method for assessing the proportion of reused components in energy-related products'
• EN 45557:2020 'General method for assessing the share of recycled material in energy-related products'

With the support of ComplyMarket, you can ensure that your products comply with the WEEE Directive and contribute to a more sustainable future.