Electronic waste and collection, what changes with the Pnrr decree

On the Raee (waste electrical and electronic equipment), Decree Law 19/2026, as converted, intervenes with two repeals relating to the waste and contained in Article 14, paragraphs 4 and 5. The aim is the maintenance of the complex regulatory framework for this waste and the enhancement of disposal.

Paragraph 4 deletes the third sentence of Article 11(1) of Legislative Decree 49/2014. Thus, it may seem that distributors of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) professional lose the right to free collection of the relevant waste on a one-for-one basis. But on closer inspection, this is not the case. The option now becomes an obligation because it falls under the provision of the first sentence of Article 11 of Legislative Decree 49/2014, where it generically speaks of "distributors" without distinguishingb>between domestic and professional EEE. Therefore, in order to increase collection, now also the distributors of professional Aee - when they sell a new one - "ensure" the free "one-for-one" take-back of the used equivalent type equipment.

This removes the special rule for professional EEE distributors, commissioned by producers for collections, who therefore fall under the general rules. In this way, they do not lose all the important simplifications introduced by Law 166/2024 for all distributors: configuration as "collection" of preliminary deposits of waste at points of sale or "other places" as long as they are communicated to the Raee Coordination Centre and absence of authorisation and registration with the Managers' Register; increased quantities for preliminary deposits; absence (also for those appointed by distributors for collection) of the loading/unloading register, Mud, del Rentri and replacement of the waste transport form with the Transport Document (Ddt). No small simplification.

Article 14(5) of the new text, on the other hand, repeals Article 70 of Law 182/2025 (Simplification Law). But this does not remove the possibility for the distributor to collect in a "one-for-zero" mode and free of charge other household WEEE, even large ones, at the buyer's home in addition to the household WEEE, replaced by the new Aee sold. In order to maximise collections, Law 147/2025 (conversion of Decree-Law 116/2025 - "Terra dei fuochi") removed the limit of very small WEEE envisaged by the repealed Article 70, by adding the second sentence to Article 11, Paragraph 1 of Legislative Decree 49/2014.

Therefore, the possibility of "one-for-zero home take-back" is confirmed, but extended to all WEEE regardless of size. This facilitates collection with the economy of scale that, in the context of home delivery of a new EEE by the distributor (or its agent), is realised by the free take-back of used EEE and other EEE even if the consumer does not buy equivalents. Think, for example, of the delivery of a new refrigerator to which corresponds the free take-back of the used one (one against one) but also of a small electric shaver or a washing machine (one against zero).