WEEE, WEEE, WEEE, WEEE all the way home? An evaluation of proposed electrical and electronic waste legislation

Abstract:

Over the past decade the European Commission has been developing plans to address environmental problems caused by a growing volume of waste from electrical and electronic products. It has recently published a series of proposals for a draft Directive. Using a recognized analytical framework, this paper evaluates arguments for and against these proposals in the light of responses from stakeholder interest groups. It assesses the strong criticisms voiced by some industry representatives and the reservations of environmental and consumer organizations. The paper concludes that the proposed legislation, if refined and implemented effectively, would represent a highly significant advance in environmental policy, as waste-related environmental costs would be internalized into the price of electrical and electronic products. Sustainable product design could thereby be promoted.