In light of the upcoming review of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, the WEEE Forum has, together with Deloitte, published a new study urging the European Commission to adopt a more ambitious, realistic and circularity-driven approach to setting WEEE management targets.

The current WEEE collection target methodology, based on the average weight of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) placed on the market in the three preceding years, is no longer fit for purpose. Rapid technological changes and longer product lifetimes have rendered the current approach meaningless and the targets unachievable.

The study recommends transitioning towards a more robust yet simplified method to set collection targets, based on WEEE actually generated, aligning better with market fluctuations and circular economy goals.

To support the Commission’s work under the proposal for a Circular Economy Act expected in 2026, the study also suggests:

A multi-target framework addressing not only collection volumes, but also service quality, preparation for reuse, reduction of illegal parallel flows, enhanced recycling of (critical) raw materials, and awareness-raising.
The adoption of the ‘all actors’ principle, holding everybody in the value chain that governs or has access to e-waste – producers, retailers, municipalities, recyclers, refurbishers, consumers, customs, enforcement agencies – accountable for WEEE management and calling for collaborative action.
The WEEE Forum’s recommendations form part of its contribution to the Commission’s mandated review of WEEE legislation, due by 31 December 2026.

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