The WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive has implications for handling and disposal practices of electronic equipment.

The WEEE Directive came into effect across Europe after being passed by the European Commission on 27 January 2003. The Directive sets collection, recovery and recycling rates for all types of electronic waste. Member states are also required to ensure they have in place adequate collection, treatment and financing systems before September 2005. Additional Directives, including the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) are also being introduced to underpin the WEEE Directive. The Department of Trade and Industry have a comprehensive explanation and overview of the Directive here.

• A compulsory household collection target of 4 kg, by the end of 2006, with a new target to be established by the end of 2008.
• Compulsory producer responsibility for financing the management of consumer electronic and electrical waste.
• Producers able to use collective or individual financing schemes.
• Heavy metals and toxic flame retardants used in the manufacture of appliances will be banned from July 2006.
• Member States must take measures to minimise the disposal of WEEE by consumers as unsorted municipal waste.
• Producers banned from preventing re-use or recycling of products with "clever chips" such as those seen in some printer cartridges.
• Costs of treating historical waste to be shared proportionately between producers on the market when the costs arise.

The full text of the WEEE Directive is available here, the accompanying document for the RoHS Directive is available here.

Additionally, other UK Government offices and websites offer information relating to the WEEE Directive and it's implications for manufacturers, consumers and associated users/providers.