A call for banning single-use disposable e-cigarettes has been made by eight European Organisations to the European Parliament and Council

Europe's ambition to remove persistent organic pollutants from material cycles must be matched by rules that are scientifically measurable, commercially achievable and consistent with circular economy objectives. In this January 2024 position paper, EERA warned that proposed reductions in the unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) limits for PBDEs could significantly restrict the European market for recycled WEEE plastics if introduced before reliable testing methods are available. EERA called for a harmonised scientific testing approach across Member States and a stable regulatory framework that gives specialist recyclers the certainty needed to invest in treatment capacity. EERA recommended maintaining a 500 mg/kg limit for PBDE-containing recyclate, mixtures and articles after adoption, with any reduction to 200 mg/kg taking effect no earlier than 1 January 2030.

Greece has established a formal system for collecting and treating waste electrical and electronic equipment, but significant volumes of WEEE continue to fall outside documented recycling channels. This 2023 assessment, prepared by Eunomia Research & Consulting for EERA and the EERA Greek Committee, examined the performance of the Greek WEEE system across collection, treatment, reporting and costs.

The study identified a series of interconnected challenges, including collection rates below EU targets, producer free-riding, scavenging of valuable components before WEEE reaches authorised treatment facilities, complex reporting requirements and gaps in enforcement and monitoring. It also highlighted a significant difference between estimated operational recycling costs and the treatment costs considered within the existing producer responsibility system.

The report concludes that improving WEEE management requires action across the entire value chain. Recommendations include strengthening small WEEE collection, tackling illegal and undocumented treatment, keeping equipment intact until proper treatment, simplifying classification and reporting, improving the management of photovoltaic panels and strengthening enforcement. Together, these measures could help retain more WEEE within compliant recycling channels, improve the recovery of valuable and critical raw materials, and create better conditions for high-quality recycling in Greece.

In March 2023, the European Battery Recycling Association (EBRA) announced that Julie-Ann Adams would succeed Alain Vassart as Secretary General following his retirement at the end of the year. The appointment brought together Julie-Ann's experience in WEEE and battery legislation, producer responsibility, recycling and technical standards, while strengthening the connection between two closely aligned European recycling sectors.

Reducing persistent organic pollutants in recycled materials is essential, but regulatory limits must also be measurable and technically achievable. In its 2022 statement on PBDEs in WEEE plastics, EERA warned that lowering the UTC limit below the capability of available screening technology could unintentionally restrict plastics recycling. We called for a stable 500 mg/kg limit for the sum of PBDEs for at least three years, giving industry time to develop and validate more robust testing methods, with any subsequent reduction based on a risk assessment and demonstrated analytical capability.

Cross-border shipments allow e-waste and recovered materials to reach specialist recycling facilities, but lengthy approvals, inconsistent procedures and high costs can create unnecessary barriers. In this 2022 joint response, EERA and FEAD called for a more harmonised, digital and risk-based approach to e-waste shipments, including faster procedures for pre-consented facilities.

In 2022, the European Commission launched a Call for Evidence on the evaluation of the WEEE Directive. EERA responded by calling for greater harmonisation across Europe, stronger collection and treatment requirements, mandatory treatment standards, and recycling targets that better reflect treatment quality and the recovery of critical raw materials. We highlighted how differences in national implementation were creating unequal operating conditions, increasing administrative burdens and allowing WEEE to leak from compliant collection and treatment routes. Our response called for a more consistent EU framework that rewards high-quality recycling and creates a level playing field for WEEE operators across Europe.

Small electrical products may be easy to overlook, but together they represent a significant share of global e-waste. For International E-Waste Day 2022, EERA highlighted the problem of small electrical products being discarded with general waste or left unused in European households, preventing valuable raw materials from being recovered. EERA also invited its Members across Europe to share the recycling message through a photo competition, won by Ecoreset in Greece.

Moving plastic waste efficiently across the EU helps recyclers access sufficient feedstock and direct materials to the most appropriate treatment facilities. In this 2022 coalition position, EERA and five European industry associations called for harmonised pre-consent rules, faster notifications, lower financial burdens and digitalised waste shipment procedures

Treating waste containing ozone-depleting substances requires specialist capacity, effective enforcement and clear responsibility for treatment costs. In this 2022 position statement, we set out the conditions needed to expand compliant treatment, prevent ODS emissions and support investment in appropriate recycling infrastructure

We want more plastics from WEEE to be recovered and returned to the market as secondary raw materials. This position paper sets out our recommendations on POP BFR thresholds, technical feasibility, investment and the need to bring more WEEE plastics into proper collection and recycling channels.

EERA and EBRA's 2022 Joint Position Statement set out recommendations for a more harmonised and proportionate EU waste shipment framework, covering specialist recycling, waste classification, financial guarantees, pre-consented facilities, digitalisation and controls on illegal shipments and exports outside the EU

EERA's fact sheet explains the implications of Low POP Content and Unintentional Trace Contaminant thresholds for BFR-containing WEEE plastics, including material flows, sorting, recycling capacity and innovation.

Different interpretations of the WEEE Directive created unequal operating conditions for recyclers across Europe. In this 2022 position paper, we called for an EU WEEE Regulation with more harmonised requirements for product design, collection, treatment, waste shipments and recycling targets.

The NSRR Fast Track Notifications Working Group's 2022 consultation response set out proposals to simplify intra-EU shipments to pre-consented recovery facilities through harmonised criteria, faster notification procedures, digitalisation, simpler waste classification and proportionate financial guarantees.

EERA's IERC 2022 conference paper examines how better collection, advanced recycling technologies, producer-recycler collaboration and stable regulation can increase the circularity of plastics from WEEE.

Joint statement calling for removable, replaceable and repairable batteries to support longer product lifetimes, safer recycling and a more circular battery economy in Europe.

Lithium batteries are now found across an expanding range of electrical products, creating fire risks throughout the WEEE and waste battery value chains. Developed through collaboration between industry associations and the insurance sector, this practical guide brings together experience from across collection, logistics, storage, preparation for reuse, WEEE treatment and battery recycling. It provides good-practice recommendations to help operators identify and reduce risks, strengthen fire prevention and emergency planning, improve the handling of damaged and embedded batteries, and protect personnel, facilities and valuable secondary raw materials. Rather than prescribing a single solution, the guide provides a practical framework that companies can apply to their own operations and risk assessments.

EERA’s report brings together practical experience from WEEE recyclers on preventing and managing fire risks associated with batteries in electronic waste. It covers collection and transport, safe handling and storage at recycling facilities, fire prevention and emergency response, and the additional costs created by battery-related risks.

The CEWASTE project examined how better collection, treatment, traceability and certification could increase the recovery of critical raw materials from WEEE, waste batteries and other end-of-life products.