Italy collects only 17% of small electronic waste, study finds

A study by Erion Weee reveals that in Italy, only 17% of small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)—such as smartphones, earbuds, and cables—is correctly collected. This figure falls significantly short of the European target of 65%. Many small devices are either kept in drawers, disposed of through non-compliant channels, or thrown into general waste.

To address this, a pilot project involving Asia Napoli, Erion Weee, and the Municipality of Naples installed 30 computerized eco-islands. This initiative increased the population within 3 km of a collection point from 75% to 96%, intercepting nearly 2,300 kg of small e-waste. Additionally, a campaign in 43 educational institutions collected approximately 350.7 kg of electronic waste.