Waste from
professional Electrical and
Electronic Equipment

Regardless of its domestic or professional origin, by its nature WEEE contains recyclable raw materials which, if properly managed and treated, can be recovered and re-used, creating new resources according to the circular economy principle. However, such waste can also contain substances harmful to humans and the environment.

Precisely in order to ensure its recycling and avoid dispersing these highly polluting substances in the environment, the legislation provides for the separate collection and specific management for this type of waste.

The Producer’s responsibility for the end-of-life of professional EEE must be distinguished between:

• Historical professional WEEE: waste from equipment placed on the market before 31 December 2010, whose disposal costs must be borne by the holder of the professional WEEE (Body/Company). The financial responsibility falls on the producer only if it sells a new equivalent EEE, who, in this case, is required to collect the historical WEEE (of the same type and function);
• New professional WEEE: waste from equipment placed on the market after 31 December 2010; in this case, the financial responsibility lies with the producer who sold the equipment that has become waste.