Electronic waste (WEEE)

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), commonly known as electronic waste or e-waste (RAEE in Spanish), is electrical or electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life or become unusable.

It is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world, driven by rapid technological obsolescence, mass consumption of devices and the rise of e-commerce. According to the UN's Global E-waste Monitor 2024 (ITU and UNITAR), a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste were generated worldwide in 2022, and only 22.3% was documented as formally collected and recycled.

This waste contains valuable materials such as gold, silver, copper, lithium and rare earths, but also hazardous substances such as mercury, lead and flame retardants. Correct management is crucial to recover resources, avoid environmental risks and protect human health.

Legal definition

Under Spain's Royal Decree 110/2015 of 20 February on waste electrical and electronic equipment, WEEE is defined as all electrical and electronic equipment that its holder discards, or intends or is obliged to discard, including all its components, sub-assemblies and consumables. This definition covers both household and professional equipment.

Types of WEEE

Royal Decree 110/2015 (transposing the EU Directive) classifies WEEE into six categories:

1. Temperature exchange equipment: refrigerators, freezers, air conditioning.
2. Screens, monitors and equipment with a surface larger than 100 cm2.
3. Lamps.
4. Large equipment (over 50 cm): washing machines, cookers, solar panels.
5. Small equipment (under 50 cm): vacuum cleaners, toasters, mobile phones.
6. Small IT and telecommunications equipment: routers, smartphones, tablets.

Legal framework

At European level

• Directive 2012/19/EU on WEEE.
• Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS), which restricts hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

At national level

• Royal Decree 110/2015 on WEEE.
• Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy.

The rules establish extended producer responsibility (EPR), requiring manufacturers and importers to organise and finance the collection and treatment of WEEE.

Management and treatment of WEEE

Collection

• Dedicated containers in shops, civic amenity sites and municipal campaigns.
• Home collection for bulky appliances.

Transport and storage

• WEEE moved to authorised plants with traceability documentation.

Treatment in specialised plants

• Manual dismantling to separate valuable components.
• Decontamination: removal of batteries, refrigerant gases, mercury.
• Shredding and mechanical separation: plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
• Recovery of precious metals through physico-chemical processes.

Recovery

• Metals returned to industry.
• Plastics recycled or used for energy recovery.
• Components reused in refurbished equipment.

Risks of poor management

• Uncontrolled dumping of WEEE, contaminating soil and water with heavy metals.
• Uncontrolled incineration, releasing dioxins and furans.
• Loss of valuable resources and dependence on critical raw materials.
• Occupational risks in countries where it is recycled without safety measures (Africa, Asia).

Benefits of efficient management

1. Environmental: fewer discharges, lower toxic emissions and reduced use of virgin raw materials.
2. Economic: recovery of strategic metals such as lithium, cobalt and rare earths.
3. Social: job creation in repair, refurbishment and recycling.

WEEE and the circular economy

WEEE is a strategic stream in the circular economy because of its content of critical raw materials. Proper collection and recycling makes it possible to:

• Reduce the EU's dependence on exporting countries.
• Return materials to industrial value chains.
• Promote consumption models based on repair and second-hand use, supported by the Right to Repair Directive.

Conclusion

Electronic waste (WEEE) is one of the greatest challenges of the digital society, but also a huge opportunity for the circular economy. Spain has made progress in deploying collection and treatment systems, although it is still some way from European targets. In short, WEEE should not be seen as technological rubbish, but as an urban mine capable of supplying strategic resources for the green and digital transition.

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