Disposal of electrical and electronic equipment | Information for private households
Manufacturer/importer information in accordance with Section 18, Paragraph 4 ElektroG (new) The Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) contains a large number of requirements for the handling of electrical and electronic equipment. The most important ones are compiled here.
1. Separate collection of old equipment
Electrical and electronic devices that have become waste are referred to as old devices. Owners of old devices must dispose of them separately from unsorted municipal waste. Old devices in particular do not belong in household waste, but in special collection and return systems.
2. Batteries and rechargeable batteries
Owners of old devices must, as a rule, separate old batteries and accumulators that are not enclosed in the old device from the device before handing them in to a collection point. This does not apply if the old devices are handed in to public waste disposal authorities for the purpose of preparation for reuse and are separated there from other old devices.
3. Options for returning old devices
Owners of old appliances from private households can hand them in at the collection points of the public waste disposal authorities or at the collection points set up by manufacturers or distributors in accordance with the ElektroG.
Under the provisions, sales outlets for electrical and electronic equipment with an area of at least 400 m² and sales outlets for food with an area of at least 800 m² are required to take back electrical and electronic equipment if they offer or make electrical and electronic equipment available on the market on a permanent basis or several times a year. The provisions also apply to sales using means of distance communication, provided that the storage and shipping areas for electrical and electronic equipment are at least 400 m² in size, or the entire storage and shipping areas are at least 800 m² in size. The take-back must be guaranteed by distributors through suitable return options within a reasonable distance from the respective end user. Among other things, there is the option of returning an old device free of charge to a distributor who is required to take back a new, similar device that essentially fulfills the same functions is given to the end user. If a new device is delivered to a private household, an old device of the same type can also be handed over there for free collection. This applies to sales using remote communication means for devices in categories 1, 2 or 4 according to Section 2, Paragraph 1 of the ElektroG. These include "heat exchangers", "screen devices" and "large devices", provided that the latter have at least one external dimension of more than 50 cm. End users are asked about their intention to return the device when concluding a purchase contract. The option of free return is also available at the distributors' collection points, regardless of whether a new device is purchased, for old devices that do not exceed 25 cm in any external dimension and is limited to three old devices per device type.
An online directory of collection and return points can be found here: https://www.ear-system.de/ear-verzeichnis/sammel-und-ruecknahmestellen.jsf
4. Data protection notice
Old devices often contain sensitive personal data. This is especially true for information and telecommunications technology devices such as computers and smartphones. In your own interest, please note that each end user is responsible for deleting the data on the old devices to be disposed of.
5. Meaning of the symbol “crossed-out garbage can”
The symbol of a crossed-out garbage bin regularly shown on electrical and electronic equipment indicates that the device in question must be collected separately from unsorted municipal waste at the end of its life.
Note on disposal of used batteries
The following notice is intended for those who use batteries or products with built-in batteries and no longer resell them in the form in which they were delivered to them (end users):
Meaning of the battery symbolsBatteries are marked with the symbol of a crossed-out garbage can (see below). This symbol indicates that batteries must not be disposed of in household waste. For batteries that contain more than 0.0005 percent mercury by weight, more than 0.002 percent cadmium by weight or more than 0.004 percent lead by weight, the chemical name of the pollutant used is located under the garbage can symbol - "Cd" stands for cadmium, "Pb" stands for lead and "Hg" for mercury."
Information obligations Information obligations according to Section 18 Paragraph 2 of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act
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