People in the Europe, as in other parts of the world, are upgrading their electric and electronic equipment (EEE) such as mobile phones, computers, televisions, audio equipment and printers more frequently than ever before.

Discarded electronic products are the fastest growing waste stream. Most of the discarded electronics end up in landfills. Electronic equipment often contain substances with undesirable properties such as PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic) properties or CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or toxic to Reproduction) properties.

Other harmful substances such as dioxins and furans may be formed when products containing halogenated (for example chlorine or bromine) substances are incinerated within the EU or in the Global South.