WEEE, Battery & Packaging Compliance

What is WEEE?

"WEEE" stands for "Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment" (also known as "e-waste"). It refers to regulations, typically passed at a country, state or provincial level, aimed at promoting the reuse and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment and thereby reducing resource consumption and the amount of e-waste going to landfill. Requirements of WEEE regulations include, among others, financing the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE. With the rapidly expanding use of electrical and electronic products globally and the resulting growth in e-waste, more and more jurisdictions are enacting WEEE regulations.

EU WEEE position statement

The European Union (EU) WEEE Directive, is implemented through national regulations in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries including all EU member states, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland.

Cisco closely monitors developing WEEE legislation and complies with the EU WEEE Directive and EEA national regulations, as applicable.

Requirements of the EU WEEE Directive and national regulations generally include, among others, the following:

• Financing the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE resulting from products on the corresponding market which have reached their end of useful life. Cisco meets this requirement through membership in approved compliance organizations. In addition, Cisco offers its Takeback and Reuse Program. This program is designed specifically for end-of-use equipment to be returned to Cisco. Returned equipment will be reused or recycled by Cisco, supporting our sustainability and circular economy objectives.
• Labeling products with a crossed-out wheelie bin symbol to help minimize WEEE disposal as unsorted municipal waste and facilitate its separate collection.

EU Battery position statement

The European Union (EU) Battery Directive has been implemented through national regulations in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries including all EU member states, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland.

Cisco closely monitors developing battery legislation and complies with the EU Battery Directive and EEA national regulations, as applicable.

Requirements of the EU Battery Directive and national regulations generally include, among others, the following:

• Financing the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of batteries. Cisco meets this requirement through membership in approved compliance organizations.
• Labeling batteries with a crossed-out wheelie bin symbol to help minimize battery disposal as unsorted municipal waste and facilitate their separate collection.
• Meeting the chemical substance restrictions of the EU Battery Directive.

EU Packaging position statement

The European Union (EU) Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU PPWR) replaces the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. The EU PPWR is directly applicable to all EU member states from 12 August 2026, but it is yet to be incorporated into the European Economic Area (EEA), as of September 2026.

Cisco closely monitors developing packaging legislation and complies with the EU PPWR and EEA national regulations, as applicable.

Requirements of the EU PPWR and national regulations generally include, among others, the following:

• Financing the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of packaging. Cisco meets this requirement through membership in approved compliance organizations.
• Meeting the chemical substance restrictions of the EU PPWR.
• Providing the EU Declaration of Conformity in accordance with the EU PPWR.

Cisco is proactively aligning its global packaging standards with Articles 5–12 of the EU PPPWR, ensuring full compliance in accordance with all established phase-in timelines.

Other Regions

Cisco complies with applicable requirements of other regions that have adopted WEEE, Battery and Packaging regulations.

For questions on Cisco’s compliance with WEEE, Battery or Packaging regulations, please email environment@cisco.com.