Waste from electrical and electronic equipment: a review of proposed EU legislation

The rapid growth of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is of worldwide concern. The European Commission (EC) has proposed a harmonizing directive to control WEEE in the European Economic Area (EEA). It aims to contribute to the protection of human health and the environment. Its principal objectives are to protect soil, water and air from pollution caused by current management of WEEE, to avoid the generation of waste which has to be disposed of, and to reduce the harmfulness of WEEE. It also seeks to preserve valuable resources, in particular energy.