Extended producer responsibility and e-waste management: do institutions matter ?

WEEE (waste from electrical and electronic equipment, also as e-waste) is the fastest growing category of with 50 million tons generated worldwide each year and increases at a rate of 3-5% per year (Onyenekenwa et al., 2011). In Europe e-waste issue has been tacked with a specific named WEEE Directive (Directive 2002/96/EC). directive includes a policy principle known as Extended Responsibility (EPR). This research relates New Economics framework to EPR. More specifically, investigate how the European regulation on e-waste (that the EPR principle) changes the institutional settings to different options available. One of these options the individual producer responsibility choice versus collective producer responsibility alternative. article also presents a case study on how the introduction WEEE Directive in Italy has changed the financial, physical informative responsibilities for producers and . One important result is that the target of of e-waste set at 4 kg per habitant per year by the , was reached in 2010. We conclude highlighting that recast of the European Directive in 2012 redefined the targets of e-waste and Italy will face a big challenge order to reach those new goals.