The WEEE Directive aims to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment, by increasing re-use and recycling and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill. It seeks to achieve this by making producers responsible for financing the collection, treatment, and recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment, and by obligating distributors to allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge.

The WEEE Directive was agreed on 13 February 2003, along with the related Directive on Restrictions of the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS). The UK Regulations implementing the WEEE Directive came into force on 2 January 2007. The WEEE (Amendment) Regulations 2007 came into force on 1 January 2008, which clarify how reuse can be counted as part evidence on compliance and the recording of WEEE. Guidance and other information can be found on the BERR website.

The European Commission has also produced non-legally binding guidance and other related information, which is available at the Commission's website.