In the EU, 51% of residents have kept their old electronic devices at home

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025

Il Sole 24 Ore

European electronics recycling rates are low; countries implement various collection and reuse initiatives.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

In 2024, only 11% of Europeans recycled smartphones, laptops, or tablets, with higher rates observed in Greece and Denmark, and among those over 55. Many Europeans prefer to reuse electronic devices rather than recycle them; for instance, 51% of EU citizens aged 16-74 kept old mobile phones at home, while 18% sold or gave them away. Recycling rates were also reported for laptops and tablets, with Greece (20%) and Denmark (19%) showing the highest recycling percentages. Desktop computer recycling increased to 15%. Regarding sustainability in IT purchases, only 12% of EU people considered eco-design important, while price remained the most significant factor at 69%. In Italy, Raee waste management showed stability in the first half of 2025, with specific regional leaders in collecting waste like light sources. Various countries have implemented measures: Austria mandates collection points and offers repair bonuses; the Czech Republic has a national system for used phones; Lithuania separates electronic waste types and offers home collection for large items; and Spain monitors waste through an electronic platform.

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