Europe E-Waste Management Market Outlook, 2028

In terms of e-waste recycling and reuse, Europe is a key region. Various government initiatives to promote greener and more sustainable solutions, as well as to reduce the negative impact of e-waste generation, are expected to boost growth. For example, the European Commission launched a new circular economy action plan aimed at reducing electronic and electrical waste in 2020. Electronic waste, which includes refrigerators, cell phones, and laptop computers, is one of the EU's fastest growing waste streams. Because of the explosive growth in electronic and electrical equipment waste, a scarcity of valuable metals, and high mining costs, e-waste recycling is critical. Europe has also established stringent environmental protection legislative frameworks because, in comparison to other continents, it has the least amount of land remaining for landfills. The area's market for recycling e-waste is expanding due to all these causes.

According to the research report, Europe E-Waste Management Market Outlook, 2028 the market was calculated to have a size of over USD 12 billion in 2022. A significant amount of the overall garbage produced in Europe comprises electronic and electrical equipment. Stricter regulatory rules have been established in European countries due to rising pollution levels and decreased land for waste disposal. Therefore, the situation has improved due to the significant attention being paid to controlling this garbage to prevent the unlawful transportation of e-waste to underdeveloped countries. Additionally, a high rate of electrical and electronic equipment recycling among consumers and collaboration between public and private sector organisations have fostered a favourable climate for the e-waste recycling business in this region. In addition to that, the countries of the European Union (EU) and other developed countries are adopting scientific methods of recycling and disposal of such waste. The EU defines this e-waste stream as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The main features of the WEEE include its definition, its classification into 10 categories, and its extent as determined by its voltage rating of 1000 volts for alternating current and 1500 volts for direct current.

In Europe, e-waste management is governed by the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. The directive aims to minimise the amount of e-waste generated and promote the recycling and recovery of valuable materials. The WEEE directive places responsibility on producers of electronic products to finance the collection, treatment, and disposal of end-of-life electronic products. The collection of e-waste is organised through various means, such as designated collection points, door-to-door collection schemes, and in-store take-back systems. Companies and households are encouraged to recycle e-waste through these channels. Furthermore, STEP (Solving the E-Waste Problem) is a German organisation that contributes to e-waste recycling. They are helping to educate the public about the importance of recycling e-waste. On the basis of countries, the market is segregated into six major regions, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, and Russia. Among them, the United Kingdom will dominate the market in 2022. However, a major portion of the market share is comprised by other European countries such as Poland, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, and Belgium, etc.

Being one of the most advanced nations in the world, the United Kingdom is one of the largest consumers of electronic technology. Approximately 36 million PCs are in use in the country at present, and the usage of mobile devices has also soared. In 2019, it was reported that thousands of tonnes of plastic waste, which people thought they were recycling, were actually being shipped to other countries. In many cases, in fact, the waste was being illegally dumped. This significantly raised the level of public concern over what happens to the waste generated in the UK. Further, in Europe, rising reuse and e-waste recycling are expected to foster the adoption of e-waste management services. Further, several government initiatives for sustainable and greener solutions are expected to foster the adoption of such services. These factors may incite the industry’s growth in the coming years. The growing need to reduce the pollution index in Europe and around the world is driving the local waste management market. Furthermore, large-scale immigration has increased waste production, providing additional incentives to the operating industries.Another reason is the high recyclability practised and the continuous improvements in the waste management sector. The economies of various European countries are growing, and this presents growth opportunities for various industries, including waste management. Waste-to-energy conversion processes are also gaining popularity in Europe.

Electronic waste (e-waste) is generated in Europe as a result of the increasing use of electronic devices, such as computers, televisions, smartphones, and other consumer electronics. As these devices become obsolete or are replaced by newer models, they are often discarded and become part of the e-waste stream. E-waste is also generated as a result of business practices, such as the replacement of equipment by companies and government organizations. This can include the replacement of office equipment, such as computers, printers, and servers, as well as the replacement of larger electronic systems, such as data centers. In addition to the replacement of existing electronic devices, e-waste is generated as a result of the production of new electronic devices. This includes the production of raw materials, such as metals and plastics, and the assembly of components into finished products.

The generation of e-waste in Europe is a growing concern, and many countries in the region have implemented regulations and programmes aimed at promoting the responsible disposal of e-waste and encouraging the recycling of materials from discarded electronic devices. This includes the European Union's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, which requires that producers of electronic equipment take responsibility for the collection, treatment, and disposal of end-of-life electronics. Overall, the management of e-waste in Europe is considered to be relatively advanced compared to other regions of the world, with a strong focus on recycling and the recovery of valuable materials from discarded electronics. However, there are still challenges associated with the proper management of e-waste, particularly in terms of ensuring the safe and responsible disposal of electronic devices. In February 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the new circular economy action plan, demanding additional measures to achieve a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free, and fully circular economy by 2050, including tighter recycling rules and binding targets for material use and consumption by 2030. In the field of e-waste, MEPs want the EU to promote a longer product life through reusability and reparability.

Coronavirus has posed severe challenges for the waste management market by impacting everyday activities. Major economies in Europe, like Italy, Germany, the UK, etc., were severely affected by the pandemic, which resulted in the slowdown of manufacturing industries. Europe was the early hotspot for COVID, and the lockdown imposed by several European nations impeded the growth of several industries, including waste management. Nonetheless, the waste segregation and waste management industries in Europe have remained stable.This can be attributed to the fact that demand for packaging has increased and bio-plastics and similar materials have been successfully segregated during this period. Healthcare experts have suggested that amidst the absence of vaccines, trials are supposed to ramp up, and thus the demand for waste management will be very high in this locale in the future.

In recent years, the e-waste management industry in Europe has experienced several notable developments.

• Implementation of the Circular Economy Package: In December 2015, the European Union adopted the Circular Economy Package, which aims to promote the circular economy and reduce waste, including e-waste. The package sets targets for the recycling of electronic waste and requires member states to ensure that separate collection systems are in place.
• Increase in e-waste recycling rates: The e-waste recycling rate in Europe has increased in recent years, largely as a result of increased regulations and expanded e-waste recycling programs. In 2020, the European Commission reported a recycling rate of 44% for electronic waste, up from 39% in 2016.
• Investment in new recycling technologies: The e-waste management industry in Europe has seen significant investment in new recycling technologies, such as robotics and artificial intelligence, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of e-waste recycling.
• Expansion of producer responsibility schemes: producer responsibility schemes, where manufacturers are responsible for the disposal of their products, have been expanded in Europe in recent years. These schemes have been shown to increase the collection and recycling of electronic waste.
• Growing awareness of the e-waste problem: There has been a growing awareness of the environmental and health impacts of e-waste in Europe in recent years. This has led to increased public demand for more effective e-waste management, which has in turn driven government and industry action to address the problem.

Start-ups in Europe for E-Waste Management:

• Wecycle: Wecycle is a Dutch-based e-waste management company that provides secure and responsible e-waste recycling services to individuals, businesses, and organizations. They use a closed-loop recycling process that ensures all e-waste is responsibly recycled.
• Recupyl: Recupyl is a French-based e-waste management startup that provides sustainable e-waste recycling solutions to businesses and organizations. They use state-of-the-art technologies to recover valuable materials from e-waste and minimise waste.
• Troja-Systeme: Troja-Systeme is a German-based e-waste management company that provides secure and responsible e-waste recycling services to individuals and businesses. They use innovative technologies to safely and efficiently recycle e-waste and minimise waste.
• Reset Solutions: Reset Solutions is a UK-based e-waste management startup that provides secure and responsible e-waste recycling services to individuals and businesses. They use cutting-edge technologies to safely and efficiently recycle e-waste and minimise waste.
• EnviroSustain: EnviroSustain is a Swedish-based e-waste management company that provides secure and responsible e-waste recycling services to individuals, businesses, and organizations. They use sustainable practices and innovative technologies to safely and efficiently recycle e-waste and minimize waste.

Major Companies present in the market:

Enviro-Hub Holdings Ltd, Sensoneo, Sims Lifecycle Services, Inc., Big Belly Solar, LLC., Sembcorp Industries Ltd, Veolia Environment SA., UMICORE SA and TES-AMM., Tetronics (International) Limited, TES, Ecube Labs Co. Ltd, Aurubis AG., Stena Metall AB, Boliden AB.

Considered in this report

• Geography: Europe
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report

• Europe E-Waste Management market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Country-wise E-Waste Management market analysis
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

Countries covered in the report:

• Germany
• United Kingdom
• France
• Spain
• Italy
• Russia

By Source Type:

• Household Appliances (Air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, drying cabinets, freezers, refrigerators, kitchen stoves, water heaters, washing machines, trash compactors, microwave ovens, and induction cookers, etc.)
• Consumer Electronics (Mobile Devices, Wearables, TVs, Set Top Boxes, Monitors, Laptops, Tablets, Computers, Printers, Scanners, etc.)
• Industrial Electronics (IT & Telecom Equipment, IT Accessories, PCBs, Digital Boards, Datacentres, Medical Equipment and Accessories, etc.)
• Others

By Material Type:

• Metal
• Plastic
• Glass
• Others

By Application Type:

• Trashed
• Recycled

Intended audience:

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations and organisations related to the E-Waste Management industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing and presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.