Last Updated:	2008-03-12
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Introduction

Italy has implemented the WEEE Directive through the Legislative Decree No.151 dated 25 July 2005 (Legislative Decree implementing Directive 2002/95/CE, Directive 2002/96/CE and Directive 2003/108/EC -- "Decreto legislativo attuazione delle direttive 2002/95/CE, 2002/96/CE e 2003/108/CE, relative alla riduzione dell'uso di sostanze pericolose nelle apparecchiature elettriche ed elettroniche, nonché allo smaltimento dei rifiuti"). The Decree entered into force on 13 August 2005. Producers' obligations to take back WEEE became fully effective upon the adoption of the sub-Decrees (pursuant to Article 13.8 and 15.1 of the Decree) establishing both the Central Register and the Supervision and Control of WEEE Management Committee (see Section 8 below). The sub-Decree establishing the register was adopted on 25 September 2007 and published in the Official Gazette on 5 November 2007. The sub-Decree on the committee was adopted on 25 September 2007 and published in the Official Gazette on 6 October 2007.

Producers are required to register at their local Chamber of Commerce as EEE producers before putting electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) on the Italian market. They are required to provide a guarantee to ensure the financing of the proper disposal of EEE placed on the market after 13 August 2005, if such EEE can be used in private households. This registration and guarantee obligation is aimed at preventing producers from placing equipment on the market in an anti-competitive way without living up their take-back and disposal obligations ("free-riders"). Producers are also required to mark their products.

Pursuant to the Decree, local authorities are responsible for separate collection of household WEEE. Producers can set up systems for WEEE collection from private households, individually or collectively. The law provides for a public WEEE Management Supervision and Control Committee ("Comitato di vigilenza e di controllo e comitato di indirizzo sulla gestione dei RAEE'") to coordinate waste management from municipal collection points onwards. A National Register of the parties required to treat WEEE has been established under the supervision and control of a "WEEE Management Committee." The operating costs of the Committee are to be financed by producers according to their market share.