Europe’s leading lighting manufacturers have strongly criticised an EU proposal to introduce a new €2 per kilogram levy on uncollected waste luminaires and electrical equipment, warning it would increase costs, distort markets and fail to boost recycling rates.
In a joint letter to EU Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin and Ambassador Søren Jacobsen, industry groups including LightingEurope and the WEEE Forum described the planned charge as ‘ill-conceived’ and ‘ineffective’. The levy, part of the EU’s long-term budget plans, would apply to each kilogram of electrical and electronic waste that member states fail to collect.
Manufacturers argue the measure is based on unreliable data and risks unfairly penalising both producers and consumers. They point out that the EU’s statistics on e-waste collection are inconsistent across countries, meaning some states could be charged for waste that may not even exist.
The industry warns that the new tax would add a heavy financial and administrative burden, ultimately raising prices for consumers. ‘Producers already pay for the collection and recycling of their products,’ the letter states. ‘This proposal simply adds another layer of cost without improving recycling outcomes.’
Instead, the groups are urging policymakers to focus on strengthening the existing WEEE Directive, which governs e-waste management across the EU. They call for better enforcement of current rules, improved data collection, and new investment in recycling technology and infrastructure.
The signatories stress that the upcoming Circular Economy Act revision in 2026 offers a better opportunity to rethink how Europe manages e-waste, rather than introducing a quick-fix tax.
‘The proposed levy risks undermining Europe’s competitiveness and doing little for the environment,’ the letter concludes. ‘A smarter, fairer approach is needed to truly advance the circular economy.’
