EU to implement new regulations for retailers recycling used electronic products

According to foreign media reports, the new regulation requiring all large-scale electronics retailers to recycle used electronic products is part of the amendment to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) over the next seven years. It will gradually be implemented throughout the European Union.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the EU, but currently only a third of electrical and electronic waste is collected and properly disposed of. Systematic collection and proper processing are necessary to recover gold, silver, copper and rare metals used in televisions, laptops and mobile phones.

The revised directive will increase the collection target. The target will be increased from the current 4 kg per capita to 20 kg by 2020. It is estimated that by 2020, the amount of WEEE will increase to 12 million tons, and EU authorities hope to see at least 85% of WEEE collected and processed. From 2018, the directive extends the current limit to all types of e-waste.

At the same time, the retailer recycling plan means that at the latest by February 2014, large electronic goods stores (electronic goods stores with a store area of ​​400 square meters or larger) will have to accept small WEEE items such as mobile phones for free, while consumers No need to buy new products.

The revised directive also includes illegal export of used electronic equipment.