Disposing of electronic waste

Electrical and electronic waste, also known as e-waste, contains potentially harmful materials that can pollute the environment. At the same time, it also contains valuable materials that can be recovered as secondary raw materials. It is therefore important to dispose of old devices properly.
As a consumer, you can dispose of e-waste free of charge.

• At municipal collection points operated by public waste management authorities,
• at local retail stores that sell electrical and electronic equipment over a sales area of more than 400 m², if you purchase a comparable device,or even without buying a new device, you may return up to three small old electronic devices (none of which exceeds 25 cm in any external dimension),
• from food distributors (800 m² or more of shop space) who sell electrical and electronic appliances permanently or several times a year, for example from discounters, if you buy a comparable appliance or up to three small old electrical appliances (no external dimension is larger than 25 cm), even without buying a new electrical appliance.
• These obligations also apply when devices are delivered, as well as for sales via distance communication methods (e.g., online retail). In such cases, collection must be arranged either through free pickup or the provision of a return option within a reasonable distance. For online retailers, the size requirement refers to their storage and shipping area.
• Online retailers and bricks-and-mortar retailers must ask the buyer specifically about their intention to return the waste and provide information on the subject of returning waste electrical and electronic equipment.
• Regardless of these legal obligations, retailers may voluntarily accept old devices free of charge. This includes, for example, retailers whose sales area is smaller than 400 m² or 800 m², or those who voluntarily accept larger old devices without requiring the purchase of a comparable new device.
• Manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment may also voluntarily establish and operate individual or collective take-back systems for the free return of used equipment.
• Certified primary treatment facilities are also permitted to accept waste electrical and electronic equipment. Please inquire directly which types of old devices are accepted.
• The collection points are labelled with a standardised "Electrical appliances take-back" logo.

Associations, organizations, or service providers may collect and take back devices only on behalf of public waste management authorities, manufacturers, or distributors.

Important: Please remove all removable batteries from the waste electrical and electronic equipment before returning it and place them in the separate collection. When returning the waste electrical and electronic equipment, please point out that it may contain (additional) batteries.