How countries are compared
There are two common ways to compare WEEE performance. The first is the amount collected per person, usually in kilograms per inhabitant. The second is the collection rate, which compares the WEEE collected with the amount of electrical equipment placed on the market in previous years. A country can rank highly on one measure and lower on the other.
Europe's leading collectors
Eurostat publishes WEEE data for EU member states and EEA countries. In these datasets, northern and western European countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland are regularly among the highest collectors of electrical waste per person, supported by long-established collection networks and producer schemes.
Why Nordic countries perform well
Countries that perform strongly tend to share a few features: dense networks of collection points, retailer take-back, well-funded producer responsibility schemes and high public awareness of separate collection. Several of these schemes have operated since the early 2000s.
Collection is not the same as recycling
Rankings often use collection figures, because they are the most consistently reported. Collection measures the WEEE entering official channels. The proportion of materials then recovered or recycled is measured separately, so a country collecting large volumes is not automatically the one recycling the highest share of each item.
Where the UK fits
The UK reports its WEEE figures under its own regulations rather than through Eurostat since leaving the EU. It collects a large total tonnage because of its population, and business WEEE is reported alongside household figures, which makes direct comparisons with other countries more complex.
Why rankings change
Positions shift from year to year as reporting methods change, new categories are added and countries improve their collection systems. Comparisons are most meaningful when they use the same year, the same measure and the same source.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries collect the most WEEE per person?
In Eurostat data, countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland are regularly among the highest collectors per inhabitant.
What is a WEEE collection rate?
It compares the WEEE collected with the electrical equipment placed on the market in preceding years.
Is the UK included in Eurostat WEEE data?
The UK now reports its WEEE figures through its own regulatory system.
Sources
Discuss your electrical waste
Contact our team to arrange a UK business WEEE collection. Have a list of the items and approximate quantities to hand, with your collection location and access details.
Contact our teamThis article is for general information only and does not constitute professional or legal advice. Waste producers are legally responsible for correctly classifying their waste. For guidance on your specific electrical waste, please contact our team.