European consumers face higher prices for electrical products such as computers and domestic appliances under proposals for managing waste being considered by the European Commission. The Commission's environment directorate wants to introduce measures requiring distributors of electrical and electronics goods to take back equipment at the end of its life.

Producers would also have to re-use or recycle a proportion of the goods returned as much as 85 per cent by weight of information technology equipment, for example.

However, the cost of recovery and disposal of equipment should be paid for when the product is put on the market, according to the directorate.

The directorate's proposals are modelled on similar plans for cutting vehicle waste adopted by the Commission earlier this year.

The latest proposals envisage schemes in each country to ensure that users and distributors of equipment can return products that have reached the end of their lives.

Distributors would, if required, have to take back free of charge a "similar" but out-dated product when supplying a new one.

The paper suggests that at least 90 per cent of waste cables, large white goods and IT equipment generated each year should be collected.

For telecommunications equipment, the proportion would be 80 per cent and for toys and brown goods such as radios and televisions it would be 50 per cent.

IT and cable manufacturers would have to re-use or recycle at least 85 per cent of the equipment by weight.

Industry and consumer groups have reservations about the recovery targets which appear ambitious.