Tackling e-waste together: The Circular WEEEP System for E-Waste and Plastics

In our effort to connect you with projects that fight against electronic waste and promote a circular economy, today we present the Circular WEEEP project and its innovative approach to managing Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Plastics (WEEEP).

About the Circular WEEEP project

Circular WEEEP, part of the Interreg Central Europe programme, tackles the challenge of electronic and plastic waste by designing and testing new policies across central European regions. The project brings together public authorities, research institutions, and businesses to transform waste management from a linear “take-make-dispose” model into a circular system that reduces, repairs, recovers, and reuses valuable materials.

By developing and testing a common transnational strategy and local pilot actions, Circular WEEEP helps regions prevent illegal waste trafficking, reduce landfill, and foster green innovation. Partners from seven countries collaborate to close the loop on resources, supporting the EU’s transition to a circular economy.

Focus area: Policy and Pilots for a Circular Economy

Circular WEEEP focuses on creating and testing effective policies and practical pilot measures to advance the circular economy for e-waste and plastics.

The project promotes a holistic approach across the entire waste hierarchy, from prevention and reuse to recycling. It supports the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan by developing actionable plans that encourage longer product lifespans, better repairability, and the reintegration of secondary materials into the economy.

In essence, Circular WEEEP aims to bridge the gap between policy design and real-world implementation, creating a coordinated system for WEEEP management supported by coherent governance and innovative business models.

Key Project Activities

During its implementation, Circular WEEEP is structured around several key work packages and pilot actions:

• Standardised Analysis & Planning: Assessing regional markets for WEEEP and designing tailored Regional Action Plans through market analysis, public questionnaires, and business consultations.
• Local Pilot Actions: Each partner implements one pilot measure at a regional or local level to test circular solutions in a real-world context.
• Transnational Strategy Development: Collaborating on 3 project-wide measures to promote secondary raw material markets, run awareness campaigns, and develop ICT tools for e-waste collection.

The project is testing five innovative pilot actions within its strategy:

• WEEE Design: Fostering product design for easier recycling and longer life.
• WEEE Collect/Market: Developing an ICT tool for e-waste collection and an online marketplace for secondary raw materials.
• WEEE Social: Involving social enterprises and NGOs in e-waste management.
• WEEE Lives: Promoting repair and the market for second-hand electronics.
• WEEE Aware: Running awareness-raising actions from schools to city halls.

How to get involved:

The event will be held in the 8 project areas. In Slovenia it will be held, according to the following schedule:

Monday, November 24, 2025
9:00–10:00: Rogaška Slatina, Prvomajska ulica 29
11:00–12:00: AGROS Rogatec, Ceste 10, Rogatec
13:00–14:00: Jagros Podčetrtek, Zdraviliška cesta 27 B, Podčetrtek

Tuesday, November 25, 2025
9:00–10:00: Kozje, Kozje 138 A
11:00–12:00: Bistrica ob Sotli, Bistrica ob Sotli 4 A
13:30–14:30: Šmarje pri Jelšah, Kolodvorska ulica 2 A

Partnering with EWWR

The Circular WEEEP project proudly takes part in the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR), recognizing it as a vital platform for sharing the values of prevention, reuse, and circular thinking. The mobile demonstration events during the EWWR 2025 are a direct application of the project’s goals, turning policy into tangible, local action.

The project supports the EWWR’s mission to inspire behavioural change and demonstrate how community initiatives contribute to large-scale environmental progress. The most effective actions are those that combine everyday choices, like proper e-waste disposal, with the long-term vision of a circular future for Central Europe.