The EU’s rules on waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are evolving. Changes have just been adopted, which the Member States must implement by autumn 2025. At the same time, the EU is working on a broader evaluation that could lead to even more changes in the coming years.
At present, the European Commission is fully engaged in evaluating the entire WEEE Directive.
The purpose is both to clarify ambiguous rules about which products fall under producer responsibility, and to ensure that the Directive keeps pace with developments — for example regarding new products, the circular economy, and alignment with other EU legislation.
The evaluation must be completed by December 31st 2026 and could have significant implications for manufacturers, importers, distributors, and stakeholders involved in reuse and recycling.
The Commission’s evaluation delves into several key areas, examining among other things:
Collection and Recycling Targets:
- Are the collection targets realistic?
- Should they be adjusted, for example to account for products that remain in use for a very long time or are exported as used equipment?
Calculation of Collection Rates:
- Currently, collection targets are often measured against the “average sales” of the past three years. Many believe this leads to distorted results — especially for products with long lifespans.
- Several industries would prefer shifting to measurement based on actual waste arising, so that the figures better reflect reality.
Interaction with Other Regulations:
- There is overlap between the WEEE Directive, the Battery Regulation, packaging rules, and the Ecodesign Regulation.
- The Commission is examining whether the rules can be better coordinated, to prevent companies from having to provide the same information multiple times or comply with conflicting requirements.
Administrative Burdens:
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) find the rules complex and resource-intensive.
- Options are being explored to simplify requirements, for example through common EU reporting solutions or harmonised registration systems.
The Commission’s work is based on input from Member States, industry associations, and NGOs, as well as public consultations held during 2023-2024.
The outcome could be a comprehensive revision, which is expected to be proposed no earlier than 2026-2027 and therefore would not enter into force before 2027-2028 or later.
Key Focus Areas Ahead of a Possible Revision
Several stakeholders — including both Member States and the industry itself — have already shared their views on what a future revision should include:
Improved traceability of products and waste – to ensure accurate data and prevent “black waste flows” that go unrecorded.
Harmonised rules across Member States – for example, consistent definitions of product categories and registration requirements. Many companies operate in multiple countries and face differences in requirements, even though these are set under an EU Directive.
Realistic collection targets – adapted to product lifespans, technological developments, and consumption patterns.
Clearer roles for all actors – including clarity on who is responsible for reuse, repair, and resale.
Stronger alignment with the circular economy – so that the Directive is not only about waste management but also actively promotes reuse and extending product lifespans.
There is thus a strong focus on modernising the rules to ensure they are both environmentally ambitious and practically manageable for businesses.
What does this mean for businesses?
Elretur is, of course, closely monitoring developments and will keep its member companies continuously updated on the process, potential new regulations, and related matters.
However, as a business, there are also steps you can already take to prepare:**
In the short term (2024-2025):
- Stay informed about the changes that must be implemented no later than October 2025. Pay particular attention to the rules defining which products fall under producer responsibility based on their date of placement on the market.
In the longer term (2026 and beyond):
- Prepare for the possibility that collection targets, reporting requirements, and producer responsibility obligations may change significantly.
- Consider now how you manage data on products sold, product lifespans, and waste volumes — as this information may become crucial for future requirements regarding traceability and documentation.
Timeline – what happens when?
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At Elretur, we closely monitor developments and ensure that you and our other member companies are kept informed with relevant information and guidance.
This way, you can prepare your business as best as possible and avoid unnecessary surprises.
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