Study on options for return schemes of small electrical and electronic equipment
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) currently constitutes one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU and globally. Small WEEE in particular, such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops has proven to be a challenging waste stream, with a low collection rate but high-embedded value of interest in a circular economy. Low collection rates in turn have a negative effect on the percentage of recovered, in particular recycled, small WEEE and thus both an effect on the attainment of the regulatory collection and recovery targets on laid down in the WEEE Directive.
The objective of the present study is to identify and conceptualise policy measures for action at the EU level to incentivise the return and take-back of small used and waste EEE, in order to ensure maximum collection rates and subsequent re-use, repair, refurbishment and recovery. The scope of the study concerns mobile phones (including smartphones and feature phones), tablets, laptops and their chargers.
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