WEEE Legislation

The Legislative Decree 49/2014 and subsequent amendments and additions represent the core of the national regulatory system regarding the management of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). It transposes the European Directive 2012/19/EU on WEEE, which came into force on August 13, 2012, replacing previous directives. The decree establishes the methods for the management, collection, and treatment of WEEE, with the aim of promoting a sustainable life cycle for such waste.

Law 166/2024 contains urgent provisions to promote the recovery of critical raw materials from waste electrical and electronic equipment, in response to infringement procedures no. 2024/2142 and 2024/2097.

Decree 119/2023 sets the requirements for conducting preparation for reuse activities in a simplified manner, in accordance with Article 214-ter of Legislative Decree no. 152 of April 3, 2006.

Decree 40/2023 regulates the update of the waste categories from electrical and electronic equipment listed in Annex 1 of Decree no. 185 of September 25, 2007.

Legislative Decree 118/2020 transposes Articles 2 and 3 of Directive (EU) 2018/849, which amend Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and their waste, and Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment.

Ministerial Decree 185/2007, later amended by Legislative Decree 49/2014, establishes the management bodies for the WEEE system, including the National Register of entities obligated to finance WEEE management systems, the WEEE Coordination Center, and the Steering Committee for WEEE management.

Legislative Decree 152/2006, known as the Environmental Consolidation Act, consolidates the general and organic regulations regarding waste management. Its implementation is entrusted to the issuance of specific implementing decrees.

Ministerial Decree 121/2016 regulates the simplified procedures for the free collection of very small WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) carried out by retailers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).

Ministerial Decree 65/2010, amended by Law No. 97 of August 6, 2013, and supplemented by Legislative Decree No. 49/2014, establishes the regulations regarding simplified procedures for the management of WEEE by retailers, installers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), and operators of technical assistance centers for such equipment.

The decree of August 4, 2022, introduces amendments to Annex III of Legislative Decree 27/2014, concerning the implementation of Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The provisions of the decree have been in effect since October 1, 2022.

The decree of May 19, 2020, transposes the European Commission's delegated Directives (EU) 2019/1845 and (EU) 2019/1846, amending Legislative Decree 27/2014 regarding the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

Decree 68/2017 governs the methods by which producers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) must provide financial guarantees, in accordance with Article 25, paragraph 1, of Legislative Decree 49/2014.

The Ministerial Decree of June 17, 2016, implements Article 41 of Legislative Decree 49/2014 and establishes the fees that producers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) must pay to cover the costs related to the monitoring and control of the electronic waste management system. Producers of new equipment are also responsible for the costs associated with the operation of the Supervisory and Control Committee, the Steering Committee for the management of WEEE, and the management of the National Register of entities obligated to finance WEEE management systems.

Decree 140/2016 establishes the criteria and methods for promoting the eco-friendly design and production of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), in accordance with Article 5, paragraph 1, of Legislative Decree 49/2014.

Legislative Decree 27/2014 transposes Directive 2011/65/EU, which addresses the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.