As part of the European Week for Waste Reduction 2025, ACR+ is showcasing inspiring stories from organisations across Europe that are taking bold action against e-waste. One of these is the WEEE Forum, an international association dedicated to reducing Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). With 50 producer responsibility organisations as members worldwide, the WEEE Forum is at the forefront of transforming electronic waste management and promoting circular economy practices.

About the WEEE Forum

Founded in 2002, the WEEE Forum brings together expertise on every aspect of WEEE management, from collection and logistics to processing, reuse, and recycling. Its mission is clear: to be the world’s foremost e-waste competence centre, leading the way in implementing circularity principles and ensuring that valuable materials are recovered and reintegrated into the economy.

While recycling remains the core focus of its members’ work, many also support initiatives that encourage repair and reuse, helping extend the life of electronic devices and reducing the pressure on raw materials.

Successes in numbers

Since its creation, the WEEE Forum and its members have achieved a remarkable milestone:

• 45 million tonnes of e-waste have been collected, de-polluted, recycled, or prepared for reuse.

• In 2024 alone, more than 3.6 million tonnes were recovered.

These figures demonstrate the power of collective action and the effectiveness of the extended producer responsibility model in addressing one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world.

How to get involved

A key initiative led by the WEEE Forum is International E-Waste Day (IEWD), celebrated every year on 14 October. Much like the EWWR, IEWD is a global awareness campaign that highlights different aspects of the e-waste challenge.

This year’s edition focused on Critical Raw Materials—essential elements mined in only a handful of countries that play a crucial role in the green and digital transitions. By raising awareness of the importance of recovering these materials, the WEEE Forum hopes to encourage more responsible disposal and recycling habits worldwide.

The WEEE Forum invites companies, schools, NGOs, and public authorities to join International E-Waste Day by:

• Organising events, campaigns, or awareness activities,

• Registering their initiatives on the global IEWD platform,

• Using the dedicated communication materials provided to amplify impact.

Participants not only contribute to a global effort to reduce e-waste but also gain visibility and recognition for their actions. More details can be found on the official IEWD website.

Partnering with EWWR

The WEEE Forum has actively taken part in past editions of the European Week for Waste Reduction, and this year’s focus on e-waste makes the collaboration even more meaningful.

For the Forum, awareness-raising is the cornerstone of change. While increasing collection volumes is important, educating citizens about recycling options and circular alternatives is what ultimately drives long-term transformation.

When asked what advice they would give to those developing EWWR actions, the WEEE Forum stressed the importance of practical solutions:

“The world is at a breaking point in many ways today. People are looking for solutions to mitigate climate change and want to do the right thing. Practical, hands-on advice—adapted to local circumstances and supported by convenient onsite solutions—can truly make a difference. Changing habits is never easy, but collective action and fostering a sense of community, where circular practices become the social norm, is one of the solutions.”

A call to action

The WEEE Forum’s story is a powerful reminder that collective responsibility and local action can create global impact. By joining initiatives such as International E-Waste Day and the European Week for Waste Reduction, citizens, organisations, and policymakers alike can work together to ensure that the electronics we rely on today do not become the environmental burden of tomorrow.