Background Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is made up of a complex mixture of materials and components that contain dangerous substances such as mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, asbestos and arsenic. These hazardous components create significant environmental risks if not properly dealt with. Furthermore, both technological innovation and market expansion continue to increase the dangers posed. Current WEEE management practices in Bulgaria are insufficient to meet its targets for recovery and recycling of WEEE. They do not yet comply with national waste policy and waste management requirements or with the European acquis communautaire in the area of waste management. The major problem in Bulgaria is the lack of adequate infrastructure for collection and treatment of WEEE. In particular, separated collection and treatment systems are needed for waste from computers and televisions. Objectives This LIFE project seeked to demonstrate effective separation, collection, treatment and recycling of WEEE in Bulgaria. It would introduce a comprehensive and integrated system of WEEE management in a selected municipality. The approach would be based on: improved systems for the separate collection of waste streams; and modern recycling technologies. The project would select, purchase and install a specific waste-treatment facility for WEEE in the chosen municipality. It would also introduce an appropriate system for separation and collection of the WEEE. A key aspect of increasing the collection rates of WEEE would be the engagement of the general public in separating specific waste streams for collection. A campaign involving the municipality would seek to raise public awareness on appropriate separation, collection and treatment of WEEE – and its importance - through a web-site, brochures, leaflets, press conferences and the media. Finally, the project would organise one national and one international conference to share and disseminate the experiences gathered from the implementation of the system for collection, separation and recycling of WEEE. The main participants would be representatives of national and local governments, experts from European countries, experts from the Bulgarian Association of the Municipal Environmental Experts (BAMEE ) and the project team. Overall, the project aimed to ensure the full and effective implementation of all relevant European and national legislation on the collection and treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) on a demonstration scale in Bulgaria. Results The project failed due to financial constraints. As a consequence, the main objective of the project - ie the WEEE recycling installation - was not achieved.