E-waste recycling in EU Member States

20th May 2022

The category of e-waste includes products before the end of their useful technical life or unwanted and non-functioning electrical devices and electronic equipment such as computer equipment, mobile telephony, small and large household appliances, photovoltaic panels, power tools and the like. In the field of e-waste reduction, the EU has adopted an action plan for the circular economy, emphasizing the right to repair, the introduction of a common charger, promoting longer product life and establishing a recycling reward system and legislation to prevent certain chemicals in electrical and electronic equipment.

Data from the statistical portal Eurostat show that in 2018 the EU recycled 38.9% of all e-waste, with recycling practices varying across EU Member States. Liechtenstein recycled the most in 2018 (89.8%), followed by Croatia (83.4%), and Slovenia (33.6%) and Iceland (24.7%) landed in the last two places in 2018. However, for Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland, there is no data on e-waste recycling for 2018, so the countries listed are not presented in the graph.



Graph: E-waste recycling by EU Member States for 2018




                                     Source: Eurostat




(Source of the cover picture: https://ewasteaus.com/process/)

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