The symbol embeds the principles of the circular economy directly in the product. By influencing user behaviour at the end of a product’s life, it helps to ensure that materials are returned to recovery and recycling processes instead of being lost.
When WEEE EPR was introduced in 2005, the aim was to dispose of hazardous substances properly, ensure proper recycling and enforce the polluter pays principle.
With the shift from linear to circular business models, electronic waste is now becoming a valuable resource for secondary raw materials through urban mining.
There are millions of tons of electrical and electronic devices and batteries in use and each year more are put on the market.
The WEEE Directive aims to regulate the proper take-back and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the EU. According to the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility, manufacturers are responsible for the waste management of their own products.
