Reporting and information obligations for producers
Reporting and notification obligations according to §18 ElektroG / § 4 BattDG / Article 2 Waste Framework Directive
WEEE ElektroG
Quantitative target parameters subject to Section 10 (3) and Section 22 (1) of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (German acronym: ElektroG) have to be published by producers (Article 2 of the Implementing Act of the Waste Framework Directive – amendment to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act in Section 18)
Article 2 of the Implementing Act of the Waste Water Directive (German acronym: AbfRRL, printed matter 88/20) provides for an amendment to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act in Section 18. Accordingly, the status of compliance with the quantitative targets under Section 10 (3) and Section 22 (1) of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act haver to be be published annually by producers.
The Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety publishes the quantitative targets achieved in Germany and to be submitted to the EU Commission annually on the Ministry’s website. Producers may refer to this publication in order to meet their extended information obligations under Section 18 of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act. The very latest publication is available here.
The German WEEE Registration Board “stiftung elektro-altgeräte-register (ear) releases the values determined for the previous year from the annual statistics report of the producers for Germany on this website.
Each producer is required to report to the German WEEE Registration Board “stiftung elektro-altgeräte-register (ear) by 30 April the quantities of waste electrical and electronic equipment collected from primary treatment facilities in the previous calendar year by weight pursuant to Article 22 (3) of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act. Moreover, each producer must make the following notifications by 30 April each year:
- the waste equipment taken back by it per type of equipment and category in the calendar year for which no guarantee is required under Section 7 (1) sentence 1 of the Act,
- the waste equipment prepared and recycled by such producer per category in the calendar year for re-use,
- the waste equipment recovered by the producer per category in the relevant calendar year,
- the waste equipment disposed of by the producer per category in the calendar year, and
- the waste equipment exported by the producer per category in a calendar year to countries of the European Union or third countries for treatment.
take-e-way as a service provider is handling the consolidation of these data and information for its clients, the producers. The data transmitted to the German WEEE Registration Board “stiftung elektro-altgeräte-register (ear) is available here:
| Equipment category | Re-use | § 27, Par. 1, No. 6 material recovery/ recycling | Waste equipment prepared for reuse and recycled | § 27, Par. 1, No. 7 Recycling (total) "Recycled equipment" | § 27, Par. 1, No. 8 Removal | § 27, Par. 1, No. 9 Export |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kat. 1 - Heat exchanger | 0,07% | 81,23% | 81,31% | 99,33% | 0,60% | 0,00% |
| Kat. 2 - Visual display units | 0,60% | 85,68% | 86,28% | 94,60% | 3,01% | 0,00% |
| Kat. 3 - Lamps | 0,00% | 94,10% | 94,10% | 94,10% | 5,90% | 0,00% |
| Kat. 3 - Gas discharge lamps | 0,00% | 94,10% | 94,10% | 94,10% | 5,90% | 0,00% |
| Kat. 4 - Large equipment | 0,01% | 85,58% | 85,59% | 96,43% | 3,53% | 0,00% |
| Kat. 5 - Small devices | 0,04% | 82,68% | 82,72% | 97,59% | 1,82% | 0,54% |
| Kat. 6 - Small devices ITT | 0,05% | 82,44% | 82,49% | 97,89% | 1,90% | 0,16% |
Further information obligations according to the Electronic Equipment Act
Separate collection of old equipment
Electrical and electronic equipment that has become waste is called WEEE. Owners of old appliances must take them to a collection point separate from unsorted municipal waste. In particular, old appliances do not belong in household waste, but in special collection and return systems.
Batteries and accumulators
Owners of waste equipment must generally separate spent batteries and accumulators that are not enclosed by the waste equipment from the latter before handing them in at a collection point. This does not apply if the waste equipment is handed in to public waste disposal authorities and separated from other waste equipment for the purpose of preparation for reuse.
Possibilities for the return of old equipment
Owners of old devices from private households can hand them in at the collection points of the public waste management authorities or at the collection points set up by producers or distributors in the sense of the ElektroG. An online directory of the collection and return points can be found here.
Note on waste prevention
According to the provisions of Directive 2008/98/EU on waste and the Directive’s implementation in the legislation of the Member States of the European Union, waste prevention measures are required on principle to take precedence over waste management measures. In the case of electrical and electronic equipment, waste prevention measures include, in particular, prolonging the life of the equipment by repairing defective articles and selling used ones in good working order instead of dispatching them for disposal. Further particulars are available as part of the waste prevention programme of the Federal Government with the participation of the federal states.
Data protection notice
Old devices often contain sensitive personal data. This is particularly true for information and telecommunications technology equipment such as computers and smartphones. In your own interest, please note that each end user is responsible for deleting the data on the old equipment to be disposed of.
Meaning of the symbol "crossed-out dustbin"
The symbol of a crossed-out wheeled garbage can, which is regularly displayed on electrical and electronic equipment, indicates that at the end of its service life the respective equipment must be collected separately from unsorted municipal waste.
Batteries Regulation & BattDG (Battery Implementation Act)
1. Take-back, labelling and information obligations under the Battery Implementation Act (Batteries Regulation & BattDG)
Producers bear extended producer responsibility and thus assume financial and organisational responsibility for the batteries they place on the market, particularly in the waste phase at the end of their life cycle.
This includes the take-back of used batteries and their separate collection, treatment and recycling. The aim is to promote reuse, avoid waste and recover valuable raw materials through recycling.
For this purpose, producers provide suitable take-back and collection systems to ensure comprehensive coverage for their batteries throughout Germany. Returns can be made via retailers, municipal authorities, voluntary collection points and specialised treatment facilities for end-of-life vehicles and waste electrical and electronic equipment, among others.
We have commissioned take-e-way GmbH to fulfil the take-back, collection and recycling of our used batteries through approved and certified organisations for manufacturer responsibility. It goes without saying that our company provides the financial and organisational resources required by law to meet our take-back obligations. Find out about take-back locations and the necessary key data for take-back at 040/ 750 687-0.
Distributors or treatment facilities are not obliged to hand over these used batteries to the producers or their authorised representatives.
2. Information obligations under Article 74 Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542
Batteries are an integral part of our everyday lives – and this is precisely where the Battery Regulation comes in: it ensures that end users are fully informed and thus empowered to handle batteries responsibly. After all, well-informed decisions in everyday life are key to reducing environmental impact and strengthening the circular economy in the long term.
Producers provide specific information for each of their battery models, which serves as the basis for reliable consumer information. Producers and retailers work together to ensure that this information is provided in a way that is immediately and easily understandable for everyone and that end users encounter it in many places in their everyday lives. There are clear guidelines on how this information should be provided, which vary depending on the type of seller – for example, through text and image panels, easily accessible information on the website or written inserts accompanying the goods shipment. In all cases, the aim is to create transparency and provide guidance to end users.
The information focuses on the correct handling of batteries throughout their entire service life. End users learn how to avoid battery waste and how proper use helps to extend the life of batteries as much as possible. The longer batteries can be used, the longer the raw materials they contain remain in use – an important contribution to the conservation of natural resources. In addition, the information highlights the options available for reusing, repurposing or professionally recycling batteries after use. The separate collection of used batteries plays a crucial role in this: used batteries must not be disposed of in household waste, but should be returned to the cycle via designated return and collection points. This ensures that valuable raw materials can be recovered and reused instead of extracting new resources from the earth.
In addition, information on labelling, symbols and safety aspects provides guidance on the proper handling of batteries – especially with regard to used batteries and lithium batteries. Information on storage, transport, fire safety and occupational safety helps to minimise risks and protect people and the environment. At the same time, it highlights the negative effects that improper disposal can have on the environment, health and safety.
Another component of transparency is the environmental contribution: the environmental contribution paid by the producer must be shown separately when new batteries are sold. It supports the establishment and operation of take-back, collection and recycling structures and is therefore an important building block for a functioning circular economy.
This results in a comprehensive, compact information package provided by producers that gives end users all the relevant information they need. It promotes responsible behaviour and helps to keep raw materials in circulation for as long as possible and in a meaningful way – for the protection of our environment today and for sustainable economic activity.
3. Labelling
Meaning of the symbol "crossed-out bin" and the abbreviations Hg, Cd and Pb
At the end of their service life, batteries and accumulators that are no longer usable must not be disposed of in household waste. This is indicated by the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol. The chemical symbols Hg (mercury), Cd (cadmium) or Pb (lead) that may appear below the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol indicate the substances contained in the product.