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WEEE-Richtlinie
As of: 10/2026
In brief
The WEEE Directive (Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment) is the EU law that regulates the collection, treatment and recovery of electronic waste. WEEE stands for "Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment". It obliges manufacturers to take back and finance the disposal and sets collection and recovery quotas; in Germany it is implemented by the ElektroG.
What does the WEEE Directive regulate?
| Area | Contents |
|---|---|
| Producer responsibility | Manufacturers finance the collection and disposal of their devices and register nationally |
| Separate collection | Old devices must not go into residual waste; marking with a crossed-out wheelie bin |
| Collection rate | Since 2019, 65% of the quantity of devices placed on the market in the three preceding years or 85% of the old devices generated |
| Treatment | Removal of pollutants, precedence of preparation for reuse, recovery quotas per device category |
In Germany, the ElektroG implements the directive. Manufacturers register there with the stiftung ear and receive a WEEE registration number.
Outlook and significance for companies
Many member states miss the collection quota. The European Commission has therefore announced a revision of the WEEE Directive, which is to be linked to a planned EU Circular Economy Act.
For companies that retire IT, the directive mainly means: old devices belong with certified disposal companies, and reuse takes precedence over recycling. Data erasure is not regulated by the WEEE Directive; the GDPR applies to that. Second IT is a certified waste management company under § 56 KrWG and erases with certification before recovery. More on this in the guide Certified waste management company and ElektroG.
Frequently asked questions about the WEEE Directive
What does WEEE mean?
WEEE stands for "Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment". The term denotes both the electronic waste itself and the EU directive on it.
Does the WEEE Directive apply directly in Germany?
No. As a directive, it must be transposed into national law. In Germany, this is done by the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG).
What does the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol mean?
It shows that a device must not be disposed of with household waste but must be collected separately.
How high is the collection quota of the WEEE Directive?
Since 2019, a collection quota of 65% of the quantity of devices placed on the market in the three preceding years or 85% of the old devices generated has applied. Many member states miss it. The European Commission has therefore announced a revision of the directive.
Does the WEEE Directive also regulate data erasure?
No. The WEEE Directive regulates the collection, treatment and recovery of old devices, not the protection of the data on them. The GDPR applies to that. Data carriers should therefore be verifiably erased or destroyed before disposal.
Dispose of waste electrical equipment properly – after certified erasure.
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