A BBC article about a new recycling law also offers some insight into what’s recognized as the fastest growing type of waste in the European Union: e-waste. The e-waste category includes goods like washing machines and microwaves, as well as PCs and games consoles.

When, especially the latter two, are dumped in favor of the latest and greatest they all to often end up being physically dumped in landfill sites as well. Now new legislation puts responsibility for preventing this on the shoulders of producers who, until now, only had do focus on getting as much product as possible to as many people as possible.

Now retailers will have to offer to take in old devices when selling new ones, or help fund recycling services. The new situation should make it easier for consumers to recycle rather than dump.

Some however claim that the Japanese model, making manufacturers even more directly responsible for the goods they manufacture, could have produced an even greater benefit. Direct responsibilities for manufacturing could end up having more influence on recycling potential built in during the design stage.

Read more on this from the BBC