Satellite event: Petition for the disposal of electronic waste

With the help of a major petition platform that will support our project, we want to launch a petition to raise awareness about an important waste disposal issue Petition for the Disposal of Electronic Waste Aware of the importance of proper management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the environmental impact of discarded large household appliances, we request that the obligation for free collection without a purchase requirement – known as the "one-for-zero" rule – be extended to large appliances as well.

Currently, Italian regulations allow consumers to drop off small appliances (with dimensions under 25 cm) at stores with a sales area larger than 400 m², without the obligation to purchase a new one. However, this option is not available for large appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, etc.), which can only be collected when purchasing an equivalent new product.

This system poses a significant obstacle to the proper disposal of bulky appliances, increasing the risk that many will end up in illegal dumps or abandoned on the streets, contributing to environmental pollution and resource waste.

For these reasons, we request:

The extension of the "one-for-zero" rule to large household appliances, allowing them to be dropped off at stores without a purchase requirement, thereby promoting proper disposal and material recycling.

Awareness and information campaigns for citizens, ensuring that everyone is aware of safe and legal disposal options for obsolete appliances.

The same European regulation, REGULATION (EU) 2024/1252, calls for efforts from Member States: "Most critical raw materials are metals, which in principle can be recycled indefinitely, although sometimes with a deterioration in quality. This represents an opportunity to move towards a truly circular economy in the context of the green transition, while simultaneously increasing the availability of critical raw materials and thereby contributing to securing supply. (...) Timely action is therefore needed to address the various factors hindering the realization of the potential offered by circularity."

The introduction of this measure would represent a fundamental step forward for the circular economy, environmental protection, and the fight against pollution—especially in light of the fact that, on July 25, 2024, the European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Italy for the incorrect transposition of Directive 2018/851/EU on waste (part of the "circular economy package")