Electronic Waste Collection in Italy Shows Promising Growth, Despite Persistent Regional Imbalances

The management of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in Italy is once again showing positive signs. Recent data indicates a recovery in collection rates, though significant territorial disparities persist, keeping the country short of its European targets.

This picture emerges from the annual report by the RAEE Coordination Center, which paints a system improving quantitatively but remaining inconsistent in its geographical distribution and overall collection efficiency.

RAEE Data for 2025

In 2025, a total of 366,891 tonnes of household WEEE were collected, representing a 2.4% increase over the previous year. The per capita figure also rose, reaching 6.22 kg per inhabitant. This growth was primarily driven by large household appliances and small electronic devices, which saw increases of 5.4% and 5.1% respectively. The refrigeration and climate control sector also grew, while light sources declined, and TVs and monitors saw a more marked decrease, still influenced by the progressive saturation of technological replacement cycles.

From a geographical standpoint, Northern Italy remains the top-performing area, with 192,952 tonnes collected and an average of 7.02 kg per inhabitant. Central Italy exceeded the national average with 6.61 kg per inhabitant, while the South lagged behind with 4.76 kg, despite overall stable volumes. A regional comparison reveals a generally positive trend, with fifteen regions experiencing growth. Among these, Molise, Abruzzo, Puglia, Lazio, and Sardinia stood out with increases above the national average. Basilicata and Sicily, however, saw declines.

The differences become clearer when examining per capita data. Some regions are approaching European targets, such as Aosta Valley and Sardinia, both exceeding 10 kg per inhabitant, followed by Tuscany and Liguria. Conversely, areas with very low levels persist, including Campania, which remained below 3 kg per inhabitant, highlighting structural criticalities in its collection system.

An analysis by waste type also reveals some local excellences. Sardinia leads in per capita collection for large household appliances and refrigeration systems, while the Aosta Valley excels in small electronic devices. Basilicata and Trentino-Alto Adige stand out for TVs and monitors, and light sources, respectively.

Collection primarily occurs through municipal collection centers, which account for over 76% of deliveries. Retail outlets contribute approximately 23%, thanks to 'one-for-one' and 'one-for-zero' take-back mechanisms. Economically, the system distributed over 30 million euros in incentives to collection managers. Lombardy led in total value, while Liguria, Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna distinguished themselves in average contribution per tonne.

The data confirms that the system is still far from full national uniformity. Strengthening the collection network and greater coordination among institutions and operators remain crucial elements to bridge existing gaps and improve overall efficiency. "The RAEE Coordination Center, along with Collective Schemes and WEEE producers, is constantly engaged in initiatives aimed at increasing, improving, and making collection more efficient, aware of the strategic role it plays in the development of the circular economy," states Giuliano Maddalena, President of the RAEE Coordination Center. "However, to achieve concrete and lasting results, a shared effort across the entire supply chain and continuous dialogue with institutions are essential."

This issue remains pertinent in light of European policies on the circular economy, which demand concrete acceleration in the coming years, complemented by new rules on the Right to Repair.