Waste Regulations

A review of the ELV Directive was launched in 2021, resulting in a proposal for a new regulation in 2023. See https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/end-life-vehicles_en. In line with the European Green Deal and with the Circular Economy Action Plan, the proposal for an ELV Regulation builds on and replaces two existing Directives: Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles and Directive 2005/64/EC on the type-approval of motor vehicles with regard to their reusability, recyclability and recoverability. The proposed new rules cover all aspects of a vehicle from its design and placement on the market until its final treatment at the end-of-life. The European Commission proposal is available here. In 2025 the Parliament issued a committee draft report, with an 1st reading expected in September 2025 see https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2023/0284(COD)

Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). More information can be found https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-electrical-and-electronic-equipment-weee_en
The Directive sets out requirements for the treatment of WEEE containing ozone depleting substances and fluorinated greenhouse gases. In addition, the WEEE Directive Article 7 sets out requirements for the implementation of the ‘producer responsibility’ principle. The F-gas Regulation 2024/573 and Ozone Regulation 2024/590 set out requirements for Emissions Avoidance. F-gas Regulation 2024/573 Article 9 Extended producer responsibility schemes states “Without prejudice to existing extended producer responsibility schemes, Member States shall ensure that by 31 December 2027, the financing obligations for waste electrical and electronic equipment referred to in Articles 12 and 13 of Directive 2012/19/EU include the financing of the recovery, and the recycling, reclamation or destruction, of fluorinated greenhouse gases listed in Annexes I and II to this Regulation from the products and equipment, containing those gases, which are electrical and electronic equipment within the meaning of Directive 2012/19/EU and that have been placed on the market from 11 March 2024.”

The amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (widely known as WEEE or e-waste) generated every year in the EU is increasing rapidly. E-waste contains a complex mixture of materials, some of which are hazardous. These can cause major environmental and health problems if the discarded devices are not managed properly. Modern electronics also contain rare and expensive resources, including critical raw materials. These can be recycled and re-used if the waste is effectively managed.

Directive 2012/19/EU Article 5 states that Member States shall adopt appropriate measures to minimise the disposal of WEEE in the form of unsorted municipal waste, to ensure the correct treatment of all collected WEEE and to achieve a high level of separate collection of WEEE, notably, and as a matter of priority, for temperature exchange equipment containing ozone-depleting substances and fluorinated greenhouse gases.

Directive 2012/19/EU in Annex VII requires Selective treatment for materials and components of waste electrical and electronic equipment referred to in Article 8(2) requires that as a minimum a range of substances, mixtures and components have to be removed from any separately collected WEEE. This includes chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) or hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), hydrocarbons (HC). In addition, for equipment containing gases that are ozone depleting or have a global warming potential (GWP) above 15, such as those contained in foams and refrigeration circuits, the gases must be properly extracted and properly treated. Ozone-depleting gases must be treated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 [replaced by Regulation (EC) 2024/590].

Directive 2012/19/EU in Annex III lists categories of EEE covered by the directive including 1. Temperature exchange equipment. Annex IV Non-exhaustive list of EEE which falls within the categories listed in Annex III. 1. Temperature exchange equipment: Refrigerators, Freezers, Equipment which automatically delivers cold products, Air conditioning equipment, Dehumidifying equipment, Heat pumps, Radiators containing oil and other temperature exchange equipment using fluids other than water for the temperature exchange.