The European Parliament (EP) has backed ambitious plans that would require member states to collect 85 per cent of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) by 2016, rather than the 65 per cent originally proposed. Currently, only 20 per cent of WEEE generated in the EU is actually recycled.

Other amendments to the WEEE Directive that have been backed by the EP include: requiring between 50 and 75 per cent of different material types to be recycled; introducing a five per cent reuse target; reducing the number of WEEE categories; and making producers responsible for funding the collection of WEEE from households, as well as designated collection points.