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3 practical steps to increase the collection of small e-waste

Event reports 29 Jan 2025

Small Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is often overlooked in e-waste collection systems across Europe. Everyday household items like toasters, coffee machines, and hairdryers frequently end up in general waste bins resulting in the loss of valuable raw materials that could otherwise be recycled and reintroduced into the economy. Improving the collection of small WEEE has been a central focus of the EU-funded ECOSWEEE project, where APPLiA’s Senior Environment Policy Director Korrina Hegarty served on the advisory board.

Yesterday, the project’s final conference took place in Brussels, where key insights were shared. Here are 3 practical steps to increase the collection of small e-waste:

1. Making small WEEE disposal easy and convenient for consumers

Many consumers don’t know how or where to dispose of small WEEE correctly. Making recycling easier and convenient is essential. Hegarty underlined the importance of increasing the number of retailer collection points and investing in consumer education. With easy-to-access disposal points, such as when purchasing new appliances, consumers are more likely to participate in recycling efforts. 

But this cannot be effective without proper consumer education. All citizens should know the existing options available. In this sense, home appliance manufacturers play a crucial role in educating consumers about the proper disposal of appliances to minimise environmental impact and encourage responsible recycling. 

Producers have been especially instrumental in driving effective WEEE management for the appliances they sell. They have set up their own collective systems, known as Extended Producer Responsibility systems (EPR systems) or Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), in order to comply with their “producer” obligation for the End of Life management of the products they place on the market. 

The PROs which are financed by the producers take over the operational responsibility for the collection and treatment of the WEEE handed it over to them and additionally the reporting responsibility for volumes of WEEE collected per WEEE category. In partnership with the PROs, producers have actively supported public campaigns to enhance collection levels across Europe, especially of small appliances. Outreach to consumers has greatly improved over the last years thanks to the strong efforts and investments of PROs and other producer’s joint bodies in promoting collection. Enforcement by competent authorities is also key to help ensure WEEE is not ending up in the waste bin.  raising awareness about good recycling practices. This is further enhanced through digital campaigns, like APPLiA’s From Trash to Treasure – The Hidden Value of E-Waste in Our Homes, launched for International E-Waste Day 2024, have a big impact in raising awareness. These campaigns help in educating consumers about the value of properly recycling small WEEE and its positive impact on the environment.

2. Harmonising Take-back Programs Across the EU

Europe’s current WEEE collection systems are not uniform, creating confusion for consumers. “A fragmented approach hinders recycling efforts and expanding and harmonising take-back schemes programmes across the EU is essential” said Korrina Hegarty. When consumers know exactly where to take their old electronics, recycling becomes easier and more effective. To support this, there is a need for clearer and consistent obligations for retailers across all EU member states, ensuring that the recycling infrastructure is both accessible and efficient.

3. Define Clear Roles in WEEE Legislation and Set Realistic Collection Targets

Future WEEE legislation should define clear roles for all actors in the recycling value chain, from producers to consumers to retailers and collectors. This will streamline processes and ensure accountability. Nevertheless, collection targets should be revised to reflect factors like product lifespan, new technologies and consumer behaviour. The goal is to set realistic, achievable targets, that align with market realities and maximise collection rates. 

The ECOSWEEE project results offer valuable recommendations for boosting small WEEE collection rates. Key strategies include targeted pick-up services, visible fees, donation and reuse, school engagement, data security and incentives, standardised collection and sorting. 

The path forward is clear: while we support many of the recommendations, it's critical to determine the cost effectiveness of different measures and ensure any changes lead to significant improvements in collection rates. A balanced approach, combined with innovation and strong consumer awareness, will be crucial to enhancing small WEEE recycling and minimising environmental impact.

Read the conclusions from the project: https://www.ecosweee-life.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/D5.1-Conclusions-recommendations-Booklet-V4.pdf

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