European e-waste management shows low recycling rates; producers bear major responsibility.
🔗 Read the article on elta.lt
[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]
Eurostat data shows that last year, 51% of Europeans kept unused mobile phones at home, 31% stored old portable and tablet computers, and 19% kept non-functional desktop computers. While many EU countries promote e-waste recycling, the Electronics Manufacturers and Importers Organization (EGIO) head, Veronika MasalienÄ—, states responsibility lies with both residents and major market players. Lithuania has one of the worst situations in the EU regarding mobile phone disposal, with only 13% recycling them. MasalienÄ— emphasizes that manufacturers and importers bear the primary responsibility, as EU and Lithuanian laws require them to organize and finance the collection and processing of 65% of electronic waste sold in the country annually. However, Lithuania has only collected and properly processed about 40% of the required amount, and has received a warning from the European Commission. EGIO estimates that significantly more e-waste is generated than officially declared. Residents in Lithuania have good options for disposal, including free collection services, where items are first tested for reuse before being recycled. Recycling recovers valuable materials like gold, silver, copper, and strategic elements like lithium and cobalt. Other EU countries have different approaches: Czechia has a mandatory recycling fee, Austria offers subsidies for repairing old electronics, and Spain currently lacks a comprehensive recycling incentive, with low recycling rates despite high waste generation.
