EU Budget Negotiations: Proposed WEEE Levy Remains on the Table

As discussions continue on the European Union’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, a proposed levy on non-collected Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) remains under consideration.

The Council has published its negotiating box for the EU’s next budget and among the proposed new own resources, the levy on non-collected waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) remains at EUR 2 per kg, as originally proposed by the Commission. The levy is still shown in brackets, meaning that no agreement has been reached among Member States at this stage.

While the proposal aims to support EU budget financing and encourage higher collection rates, concerns have been raised by a broad coalition of industry stakeholders, including European Recycling Platform (ERP) and the Landbell Group.

The joint statement flags unreliable and methodologically inconsistent collection data, the conflation of uncollected with improperly disposed waste, and an inherent design flaw: if collection improves, revenues shrink, making the levy either fiscally unreliable or environmentally ineffective.

The coming months will be critical as negotiations progress under the Irish Presidency, with further discussions scheduled ahead of a potential agreement by the end of 2026. This would allow the adoption of the legislative acts in 2027 and ensure that EU funding reaches beneficiaries without interruption from January 2028.