Climate and energy transition

The review of the WEEE directive (waste electrical and electronic equipment) should more take into account the producers' responsibility. Producers of electrical and electronic. equipment. have indeed to consider and take a responsibility for the impact of their product on the environment, in particular to finance collection, treatment, recovery and disposal costs for WEEE, from the moment product is discarded by the consumer and therefore becomes waste, which generally happens at the household.

 

CEMR emphasises that local and regional authorities should not bear the financial consequences of the WEEE legislation gaps. In many Member States lack of clarity and substantial failures in the implementation of WEEE directive into national law have led to significant difficulties and uncertainty regarding sharing of responsibilities and financial costs between local and regional authorities and producers of electrical and electronic equipment.

CEMR also considers that the forthcoming review of the WEEE directive is also the occasion for local and regional authorities to express their views. With respect to their essential role in the management of WEEE, they should indeed be considered, on the same footing as producers of electrical and electronic equipment, as key partners of the European Commission and national governments in the revision and implementation process of the WEEE directive.

 

The WEEE directive was adopted in 2002 in order to set up a better disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment and thus to better reduce the impact of these kind of waste on the environment.

 

CEMR's response to the Commission's consultation