WEEE directive
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) is a European Community Directive (2012/19/EU), that deals with waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). It became European Law in February 2003 at the same time as the RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU).
The Directive set collection, recycling and recovery targets for electrical goods whilst the RoHS Directive set restrictions on the material content of new electronic equipment on the market.
The Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 became law in the UK on the 1st of January 2014 and replaced the 2006 Regulations. Those Regulations transposed the main provisions of Directive 2012/19/EU on WEEE which recast the previous Directive 2002/96/EC. The scope of the Regulations were extended in January 2019 to cover further categories of electric and electronic equipment (EEE).
The WEEE Directive aims to contribute to sustainable production and consumption by;
- preventing the creation of WEEE as a first priority.
- contributing to the efficient use of resources and the retrieval of secondary raw materials through re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery.
- improving the environmental performance of everyone involved in the life cycle of EEE.
In order to achieve these objectives, the Directive
- requires the separate collection and proper treatment of WEEE and sets targets for their collection as well as for their recovery and recycling.
- helps European countries fight illegal waste exports more effectively by making it harder for exporters to disguise illegal shipments of WEEE.
- reduces the administrative burden by calling for the harmonisation of national EEE registers and of the reporting format.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Articles about electricity.
- Consumer electronics.
- Consumer unit.
- ECA articles.
- Electrical appliance.
- Electrical equipment.
- Electrical installation.
- Electrical safety.
- Electrical system.
- Electrical and electronic equipment
- End of life potential.
- Environmental impact assessment EIA.
- Environmental plan for building design and construction.
- Planned obsolescence.
- Plastic and recycling.
- Recycling explained.
- Types of plastic in construction.
- Waste and Resources Action Programme WRAP.
- Waste hierarchy.
- Waste management plan for England.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.