After much deliberation, the European Parliament and Council came to a provisional political agreement concerning on proposed amendments to the EU law on the collection and management of electronic waste.
On January 25, 2022, the European Court of Justice decided in case C-181/20 that the 13 August 2012 directive on collecting and managing waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) was unjustly applied. Reference was made to the Directive's look back period, which stipulates that extended producer responsibility includes photovoltaic panels placed onto the market since 13 August 2005. The Court found an issue with the products placed within the Directive in 2018.
The provisional agreement outlines that:
Other provisions in the agreement extended to the need to evaluate the impact of the Directive by 2026 at the latest, specifically to ensure that customers and citizens do not bear the costs of managing and disposing of WEEE products. The proposed agreement now awaits endorsement from member states' representatives within the Council and the Parliament's Environment Committee.
Why does it matter?
The provisional agreement brings the region closer to invigorating the circular economy. In light of the growing e-waste problem in Europe and across the globe, the agreement allows for fairness in implementing 'the polluter pays' mechanism to ensure all hands are on deck, precisely that of the private sector. In the EU, 12.4 million tonnes of EEE are put onto the market, while only 4.7 million tonnes are collected with 10.5 kilograms per person.