Exploring options for individual producer responsibility for waste from private households for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive of the European Commission places the responsibility on producers to finance collection and treatment of waste deposited at collection facilities after 13 August 2005, on a collective or individual basis. The research identifies practical steps that are needed for producers to address WEEE from private households on an individual, rather than a collective basis. National schemes prevent individual producer's free access to waste, due to established national networks. To address this, developments in some member states show a national clearinghouse or register is to be formed, allowing multiple competing consortia to participate. Part of the task of the clearinghouse is to apply a scheduled allocation method for pickups by consortia on a geographical basis, and reconcile any recycling activities performed by individual producers.