Retail take-back obligation according to ElektroG

You are a high-street retailer, online retailer, mail-order retailer or craftsman bringing electronic products to the German market?

Stationary trade and online traders of electrical products are obliged to take back old appliances from a sales or storage area of at least 400 m². From 1 July 2022, the 0:1 distributor take-back obligation will also apply to food retailers, discounters and supermarkets if the shop area is larger than 800 m² and electrical appliances are offered for sale several times a year.

This retail take-back obligation in accordance with Germany’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) means that you are required to take back end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment from consumers at no charge and to ensure that it is disposed of professionally. Companies that do not meet this obligation may be fined up to 100,000 euros. We can assist you in meeting this legal obligation.

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Retail take-back obligation

Consumers can return their end-of-life electrical and electronic appliances free of charge, either to municipal collection facilities or directly to high-street or online retailers (retail take-back obligation). Retailers must dispose of the returned equipment by environmentally friendly means.

The following collection options are available to consumers: In a 1:1 exchange, consumers are able to return an end-of-life appliance free of charge when they buy a new appliance of the same type (1:1 exchange). However, (online) retailers must also take back end-of-life appliances when consumers do not wish to purchase a new appliance. This is only true of end-of-life appliances whose largest edge is less than 25 cm long (0:1 exchange). Overall, an (online) retailer is obliged to take back five end-of-life appliances from each device category.

In addition to the obligation to take back end-of-life equipment and dispose of it professionally, retailers have the duty to disclose, notify and inform as part of their retail take-back obligation. A waste officer must also be provided. Together with our partners, we offer you a convenient and swift solution that allows you to meet your legal obligations.

Our services for online and mail-order retailers:

  • Registration with stiftung ear as a seller or collection point
  • Complete logistics and taking back of end-of-life equipment in cooperation with a parcel service
  • Recovering and recycling end-of-life appliances professionally
  • Annual reporting to stiftung ear
  • Meeting disclosure obligation

Our services for high-street retailers and craftsmen:

  • Registrierung als Vertreiber bzw. Rücknahmestelle bei der stiftung ear
  • Collecting, recycling and disposing of end-of-life appliances professionally in collaboration with a certified waste management company
  • Annual reporting to stiftung ear
  • Meeting disclosure obligation

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Related news

 

Legal background: Germany’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG)

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (WEEE Directive) came into force in Germany on 24th March 2005. It transposes the European WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC into national law and governs the sale, return and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment. The aim of the WEEE Directive is to increase the percentage of electrical appliances taken back in the end of their life in order to protect the environment. The law requires manufacturers, distributors or importers of electrical equipment to contribute to the cost of disposing it (extended producer responsibility or responsibility for taking back and disposing of electrical appliances). For this purpose the Federal Environment Agency (German: “Umweltbundesamt”) set up stiftung ear. Before they start to sell their products, manufacturers are obliged to register at stiftung ear and apply for a WEEE number.

ElektroG / WEEE

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Please note that a guarantee is only required for types of equipment that could be used in private households. We advise you to calculate generously in order to avoid fees for adjustments to the guarantee.Expected volume until 31 Dec. 2024 (in kg)Planned quantity in 2025 (in kg)
1
Temperature exchange equipment (Refrigerators, oil-filled radiators, dehumidifiers etc.*)
2
Screens and monitors (equipment to display images and equipment with display surface > 100 qcm*)
3.1
Gas discharge lamps (Fluorescent lamps and energy-saving bulbs*)
3.2
Other lamps, except gas discharge lamps (LED retrofits*)
4.1
Large equipment (equipment with external dimension > 50 cm*)
4.2
Large Photovoltaic modules (PV-modules with external dimension > 50 cm*)
5.1
Small equipment (equipment with external dimension ≤ 50 cm*)
5.2
Small Photovoltaic modules (PV-modules with external dimension ≤ 50 cm*)
6
Small ITC equipment (ITC equipment with external dimension ≤ 50 cm*)
*Source: website stiftung ear
Bitkom Servicegesellschaft mbH does not provide legal advice. Which legal obligations you have to fulfill with regard to your products is exclusively up to your own examination. Your data will of course be treated confidentially. Information on data protection can be found in our privacy policy.
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