E-Waste management framework and the importance of producer responsibility and proactive hackerspaces

Abstract

WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) is estimated to be one of the fastest-growing waste stream worldwide and in the EU. Due to its content of dangerous substances, it is considered and regulated as hazardous waste. At the same time WEEE is a potential source for recuperation of valuable materials, such as precious metals. This paper presents the current European regulatory framework concerning WEEE management. As part of the assessment, fulfilment of the producer responsibility principle in the context of WEEE management is analysed as an example of implementation of the principle in practice. Furthermore, the paper explores selected consumer-initiated initiatives. The goal of the work is to frame and examine the topic WEEE under an EU lens and to highlight selected responses to the issue of WEEE increase, and more generally to explore current responses for sustainable management of this material stream. The EU WEEE Directive sets targets to reduce generation of WEEE and to enhance proper collection, re-use and recycling of this material stream, encouraging producer responsibility as key principle. In response to the directive, the European Recycling Platform, that is the first ever pan-European producer compliance scheme, was established for providing an alternative concept to national monopolistic schemes. While in Europe topdown approaches based on regulatory frameworks have become common in WEEE management, consumer-initiated bottom-up initiatives to address WEEE are comparatively rare, but can become vital elements to lower occurrence of such waste streams. Community-based hackerspaces are one example of proactive response towards reduction of avoidable e-waste and should therefore be fostered. KeywordsWEEE; e-waste, waste electrical and electronic equipments; producer responsibility; European Recycling Platform; recycling; hackerspaces; makerspaces