30/05/2025

Directive (EU) 2024/884 requires the Commission to “assess the need for a revision of this Directive and, where appropriate, present a legislative proposal in that respect, accompanied by a thorough socioeconomic and environmental impact assessment”, no later than 31 December 2026. To support the European Commission in defining achievable as well as ambitious targets that foster the circular economy, the WEEE Forum seeks to formulate recommendations on potential future targets for WEEE collection and on the method to calculate the collection rate, supportive of the circular economy. These recommendations thus also fit in the scope of the new Circular Economy Act that the Commission plans to adopt in 2026.

The existing legislative framework, primarily governed by Directive 2012/19/EU, sets collection targets, aiming either at 65% of the average weight of EEE put on the market (POM) in the three preceding years, or 85% of the quantity of WEEE generated in the actual year. Additionally, the directive mandates specific recovery and recycling/reuse targets for the different categories of EEE.

Conclusions of the study:

• The analytical model concludes that the current POM-based collection target is not fit for purpose, i.e. it does not use accurate estimates of WEEE generation. This results in an unachievable target mainly due to the recent strong growth in quantity of electrical and electronic products placed on the market with long lifetimes. This kind of target should therefore no longer be used to monitor infringements by Member States.
• In contrast, the WEEE generated method provides a more robust metric for setting collection targets, because it is less impacted by sudden market changes, by considering the different WEEE product lifetime distributions. However, the existing Excel tool for this method is complex and not aligned with the Eurostat metrics. Only eight EU Member States have adopted this calculation method. Moreover, the higher 85% EU target for collecting WEEE generated remains difficult to achieve for most Member States.
• This study proposes to simplify the WEEE generated calculation method by aligning data inputs with Eurostat reporting and using lifetime distribution on a WEEE category level instead of product level. In addition, the study recommends making the target more realistic and performing regular EU-wide studies on product lifetimes and market shares to further enhance the method’s relevance and precision.
• 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, refurbishes, consumers, customs, enforcement agencies – accountable for WEEE management and calling for collaborative action.

 Read the full report

On 2 June 90 experts and policy makers gathered in European Parliament for the launch of the study and a panel discussion around unlocking circularity and access to raw materials through practical e-waste collection.

Nathalie Yserd, Vice President WEEE Forum, commented “It is widely acknowledged that the current 65% collection target method based on quantities of products placed on the market in the preceding three years is neither accurate nor achievable and should not be used to monitor infringements by Member States. We need a new approach to setting targets that also foster circularity. This research shows us how to do that.”

Bruno Vermoesen, President of Recupel, added that “The future collection rate calculation method must consider the varying lifespans of products covered by the revised WEEE Directive. It should be grounded in a robust yet practical approach. Collection targets should be established in an intelligent manner, reflecting the market realities across all 27 Member States.”

MEP Bruno Tobback (S&D, Belgium), the host of the event, highlighted how the new legislation should fit into Circular Economy practical implementation: “We need a next-generation WEEE framework, one that really works on the ground and is closely linked to the Circular Economy Act and the strategy behind it. One that keeps our materials and our jobs here. By better harmonizing and organizing the collection, transport, repair, re-use and recycling of our valuable resources we keep our value and our industry in Europe. Circularity is not only the right thing to do for our climate and our environment. It is the only smart thing to do for our industrial resilience, our competitiveness and our prosperity.”

Pascal Leroy, Director General WEEE Forum insisted that “The WEEE Forum calls for collaborative action: the Extended Producer Responsibility principle must be reimagined to reflect the reality that producers are not the only actors that have access to end-of-use electronics.”