Disposing of electronic waste

As a consumer, you can dispose of old electrical appliances (waste) free of charge:

• at municipal collection centres,
• at your local retailer if they sell electrical appliances over 400 m² and you buy a comparable appliance or up to three small old electrical appliances (no outer dimension is larger than 25 cm) even without buying a new electrical appliance
• 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.
• from mail order companies in the case of online purchases, if the storage and dispatch area for electrical appliances exceeds 400 m².
• 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.
• Operators of certified primary treatment facilities may also take back waste electrical and electronic equipment. Enquire there which old electrical appliances can be accepted.
• When a new large appliance is delivered, the retailer must take the old appliance with them free of charge. To do this, you must inform the retailer when concluding the purchase contract that you intend to return a comparable old electrical appliance upon delivery.
• The collection points are labelled with a standardised "Electrical appliances take-back" logo.

In addition, manufacturers and retailers who do not reach the 400 square metre limit may also voluntarily collect waste electrical and electronic equipment. Clubs, associations or service providers may only collect on behalf of these two organisations.

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.