EWW Conference Agenda

E-waste remains one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally. While Europe leads in regulatory frameworks, a significant gap exists between collection rates, the technological capacity to recover Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), and the economic viability of secondary materials. The system is currently plagued by inefficiencies stemming from fragmented data, unofficial waste flows, and inconsistent enforcement across Member States. These issues facilitate system "leakages," undermining both material recovery efforts and fair competition within the Single Market. E-waste is a strategic domestic source of CRMs for Europe. However, large volumes of WEEE bypass authorised recycling facilities, resulting in substantial material losses. To address this, improving the integrity, traceability, and fairness of the WEEE value chain is essential. The upcoming EU Circular Economy Act (CEA) and the planned revision of the WEEE framework offer a critical opportunity to bolster Europe's resilience in accessing Secondary and Critical Raw Materials. This session serves as a strategic discussion to leverage insights from the EU Batteries Regulation and the EU WEEE Directive evaluation to inform and strengthen this future legislative framework.