WEEE EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY

EU WEEE Directive establishes Extended Producer Responsibility requiring manufacturers to finance collection, take-back, recycling, and recovery of electrical/electronic equipment (WEEE). Producers register with national authorities, report annual quantities placed on market, organize collection either individually or through Compliance and Take Back Schemes (CTBS). EPR shifts end-of-life costs from municipalities to producers, incentivizing design-for-disassembly and material optimization. Recent evaluations identify fragmented implementation across EU and enforcement gaps, particularly regarding online sellers.