Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive

The objectives of the Community's environment policy are, in particular, to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment, protect human health and utilise natural resources prudently and rationally. The amount of WEEE generated in the Community is growing rapidly. The content of hazardous components in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) is a major concern during the waste management phase and recycling of WEEE is not undertaken to a sufficient extent.

The provisions of this Directive should apply to products and producers irrespective of the selling technique, including distance and electronic selling. This Directive should cover all electrical and electronic equipment used by consumers and electrical and electronic equipment intended for professional use. The establishment, by this Directive, of producer responsibility is one of the means of encouraging the design and production of electrical and electronic equipment which take into full account and facilitate their repair, possible upgrading, reuse, disassembly and recycling.