What is regulated?

The ElektroG regulates the placing on the market of new electrical and electronic equipment, as well as the return and proper disposal of old equipment. Since August 15, 2018, the so-called "open" scope of application has been in effect, meaning that the ElektroG now applies to all electrical (electronic) equipment, unless they are explicitly excluded in Section 2, Paragraph 2 of the ElektroG (see FAQs on WEEE; link under
"Notes"). Passive devices and furniture etc. with electrical functions
are topics in the following information from the ear foundation.

• Stiftung ear: Passive devices
• ear: Amendments to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act 2018, e.g. regarding furniture, clothing

Electrical and electronic equipment is divided into the following 6 equipment categories
Except for categories 5 and 6, they are identical to the
Collection groups for the acceptance and disposal of old equipment by the
public waste disposal authorities (see Sections 2, Paragraph 1 and 14
ElektroG).

• Heat exchanger
• Screens, monitors and devices containing screens with a surface area of ​​more than 100 square centimeters
• lamps
• Devices where at least one of the external dimensions is more than 50 centimeters (large devices)
• Devices where none of the external dimensions exceeds 50 centimeters (small devices) and
• small information and telecommunications equipment,
  where none of the external dimensions exceeds 50 centimeters.

Disposal of old devices

All waste owners, i.e. private households and companies etc., have
Waste electrical and electronic equipment must be disposed of separately from unsorted municipal waste.
capture.
Only the following parties are authorized to collect old appliances from private households (Section 12 of the ElektroG).

• Public waste disposal authorities (örE) (Bavaria:
  Bodies responsible for waste disposal, i.e. districts, independent
  cities, waste disposal associations)
• Manufacturers (or their authorized representatives, if applicable) and
• Distributor (dealer)
• as well as the actors named by them as “third parties commissioned” (Section 43 ElektroG).
• Primary treatment facilities can voluntarily participate in the take-back
  participate (§ 17a ElektroG), provided that the primary treatment plant for the
  respective old devices is certified.

The electrical retailer (distributor) is obliged to take back the product if
the shops have a sales area of ​​more than 400 m² and the
Old appliances are larger than 25 cm. From 1 July 2022, the
Food retail (discounters) old appliances according to the same principle
(1:1, 0:1) provided that the stores have a total sales area
of more than 800 m². Online retailers must collect (large) waste equipment in categories 1, 2, and 4 from the end customer. Consumer-friendly take-back options must be offered for devices in categories 3, 5, and 6. Retailers not obligated to take back waste equipment may voluntarily take back waste equipment free of charge in accordance with Section 17 (3) of the ElektroG.

Batteries and accumulators must be disposed of before or when handing in a
Old devices can be removed by the owner, e.g. at a recycling center or in a store, provided this can be done without causing damage by simple actions (e.g. removing the battery). Sorting of old devices, especially battery-operated ones, must be carried out by the public
waste disposal authority or under its supervision. The trade,
is obliged to take back electrical appliances, usually leads
also device (batteries/accumulators) and must therefore also
Lamps that can be removed without causing damage must also be removed from the old device before disposal.


"Small" businesses that dispose of so-called dual-use waste equipment (see Section 3 No. 5 on electrical appliances from private households) in a household-standard manner
quantity (e.g. 5 PCs), these old devices can also
(free of charge) at municipal collection points. For further information on household quantities, see pages 10 and 13 of LAGA Communication 31A.


Manufacturers or authorized representatives must develop a take-back concept for b2b devices and submit it to the ear Foundation upon registration (Section 7a). For waste equipment pursuant to Section 19 of the ElektroG (so-called b2b devices from users other than private households) ,
which were placed on the market after the cut-off date (see Section 3 No. 4),
The manufacturer must provide the end user with a reasonable opportunity to return and dispose of the old equipment. The costs of disposal
shall be borne by the manufacturer or authorised representative, provided that the devices were placed on the market after the respective cut-off date or the manufacturer and
Purchaser/end user have made a different agreement. If
the end user does not return the old equipment to the manufacturer, the
End users are responsible for proper treatment and recycling, including covering costs.

We have taken the return and disposal of b2b devices as an example for
X-ray machines (see link under "Further information")
described.