Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) must not be disposed of with normal residual waste (household waste). They contain a variety of substances and materials. If WEEE is not disposed of properly, it can pose environmental risks due to the pollutants it still contains. In addition to harmful substances such as heavy metals and CFCs, they also contain a number of recyclable materials that need to be recovered and thus recycled. If WEEE is disposed of properly, it can replace primary raw materials (and thus their costly extraction) and make a significant contribution to conserving natural resources.

The disposal of WEEE is co-financed by citizens when they purchase electrical and electronic equipment. Public waste management authorities must therefore take back WEEE from citizens free of charge and pass it on to the responsible manufacturers and distributors for further treatment and recycling or recycle it themselves.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) can be handed in free of charge at recycling centers. Many retailers also take back waste electrical and electronic equipment in their stores.