WEEE Revision: A better Framework for Reuse

The European Commission is currently conducting an evaluation of Directive 2012/19/EU on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (hereinafter referred to as the "WEEE Directive") to assess the effectiveness of the directive.

Bitkom supports a revision of the WEEE Directive, especially in light of the overarching goals of the Circular Economy Action Plan, a modified waste hierarchy, a holistic approach to the circular economy, and the pursuit of maximizing the lifespan of electrical and electronic devices.

To more effectively achieve the objectives of the WEEE Directive and to better integrate it into the overall context of EU environmental and waste policy, we particularly recommend considering the following five points:

• Regulation Instead of Directive for EU-Wide Harmonization
• Alignment of WEEE Directive and ESPR Objectives
• Adaption of WEEE Effectiveness Assessment to the Circular Economy Action Plan Objectives
• Better Differentiation Between Re-Use, Preparation for Reuse, Refurbishment, and Remanufacturing
• Simplification of Cross-Border Transport of Used Devices for Repair and Refurbishment