Back to: SRI Online Training on E-Waste Management
Categories of WEEE
In this part of the module, we’ll be taking a look at the 6 categories EEE is comprised of with examples, as well as looking at the material composition of EEE.
Categories of WEEE
WEEE is often classified into 6 categories (set by the WEEE Directive of the European Commission):
Temperature Exchange Equipment
Screens
Lamps
Large Equipment
Small Equipment
Small IT
Examples of EEE
per category
1. Temperature exchange equipment
Freezers, Refrigerators, air conditioning equipment, heat pumps, radiators, …
2. Screen, Monitors and equipment containing screens
Screens, televisions, LCD photos, monitors, laptops and notebooks, …
3. Lamps
Straight fluorescent lamps, high density discharge lamps, LED, etc…
4. Large equipment
Washing machines, clothes dryers, dish washing machines, cookers, electrical stoves, electric hot plates, musical equipment, large computer-mainframes, large printing machines, large medical devices, photovoltaic panels, …
5. Small equipment
Vacuum cleaners, carpet sweepers, appliances for sewing, luminaires, microwaves, ventilation equipment, irons, toasters, clocks and watches, smoke detectors, video cameras, electric shavers, electrical and electronic toys, …
6. Small IT and telecommunication equipment
Mobile phones, GPS, pocket calculators, routers, personal computers, printers and telephones, …
Material composition of EEE
- EEE contain more than 1.000 different substances !
- Many substances are toxic and hazardous for human health or the environment. These substances need special treatment when the EEE reaches its end-of-use-life.
- EEE also contain valuable metals such as gold, copper, nickel and rare materials (Indium or Palladium)
- Many materials found in WEEE can be recycled to be used as secondary raw materials, enabling a Circular Economy
Further reading
For additional context, we have included an optional PDF with further reading.