The Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) contains a large number of requirements for handling electrical and electronic equipment. The most important ones are summarized here.

1. separate collection of waste equipment

Electrical and electronic equipment that has become waste is referred to as old equipment. Owners of old equipment must dispose of it separately from unsorted municipal waste. In particular, old appliances do not belong in household waste, but in special collection and return systems.

2. batteries and accumulators as well as lamps

Owners of WEEE shall, as a rule, separate spent batteries and accumulators that are not enclosed in the WEEE, as well as lamps that can be removed from the WEEE without causing damage, from the WEEE before handing them over to a collection point. This does not apply if WEEE is prepared for reuse with the participation of a public waste management authority.

3. possibilities for the return of old appliances

Owners of waste equipment from private households can return it free of charge to the collection points of the public waste management authorities or to the take-back points set up by manufacturers or distributors as defined by the ElektroG.

Stores with a sales area of at least 400 m2 for electrical and electronic equipment and those grocery stores with a total sales area of at least 800 m2 that offer and make available on the market electrical and electronic equipment several times a year or on a permanent basis are subject to the take-back obligation. This also applies to distribution using means of distance communication, if the storage and shipping areas for EEE are at least 400 m2 or the total storage and shipping areas are at least 800 m2. Distributors shall generally ensure take-back by providing suitable return facilities at a reasonable distance from the respective end user.

The possibility of returning an old device free of charge exists for distributors who are obliged to take it back, among other things, if a new similar device that essentially fulfills the same functions is delivered to an end user. If a new appliance is delivered to a private household, the similar waste appliance can also be handed over there for collection free of charge; this applies in the case of distribution using means of distance communication to appliances in categories 1, 2 or 4 as defined in Section 2 (1) of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act, namely “heat transmitters”, “display screen equipment” or “large appliances” (the latter with at least one external dimension exceeding 50 centimeters). End users are asked about their intention to return the equipment when they conclude a purchase contract. In addition, there is the possibility of free return at collection points of the distributors, independent of the purchase of a new device, for such old devices that are not larger than 25 centimeters in any external dimension, limited to three old devices per type of device.

4. data protection notice

Old devices often contain sensitive personal data. This applies in particular to 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 dustbin

The symbol of a crossed-out wheeled garbage can regularly displayed on electrical and electronic equipment indicates that the respective device must be collected separately from unsorted municipal waste at the end of its service life.

Manufacturer information according to § 18 para. 4 ElektroG (new)