2. Free take-back of WEEE by distributors
Distributors (any natural or legal person or partnership offering or making available on the market electrical or electronic equipment) are obliged to take back WEEE free of charge from end-users as follows:
a) Return/collection in the case of purchase of a new appliance and delivery to a private household.
When concluding a purchase contract for a new electrical or electronic appliance, the distributor is obliged to take back free of charge an old appliance of the same type that fulfils essentially the same functions as the new appliance.
If the place of take-back is a private household, the take-back shall take place by means of a free collection. For this purpose, an old appliance of the same type with essentially the same functions may be handed over to the delivering transport company when the new appliance is delivered.
If the new appliance is sold exclusively by means of distance communication (Section 312c (2) of the German Civil Code), the following shall apply restrictively:
- The free collection of an old appliance of the same type and function shall only take place if it is an appliance of category 1 (heat exchangers), 2 (screens, monitors, appliances with screens with a surface area of more than 100 square centimetres) and/or 4 (large appliances where at least one of the external dimensions is more than 50 centimetres).
- If instead it is an old appliance of category 3, 5 and/or 6, there is no free collection and instead the following letter b) applies to the free return.
An overview of the appliance categories and the appliances covered in each case can be found here: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/elektrog_2015/anlage_1.html
b) Return in case of purchase of a new appliance and delivery elsewhere/return of small appliances
When concluding a purchase contract for a new electrical or electronic appliance which is not delivered to a private household and when selling a new appliance of categories 3, 5 and/or 6 exclusively by means of distance communication (Section 312c (2) of the German Civil Code (BGB)) with delivery to a private household, there is the possibility to return an old appliance of the same type which essentially fulfils the same functions as the new appliance to the distributor free of charge.
The same possibility exists independently of the purchase of a new electrical or electronic appliance also for old appliances which are not larger than 25 centimetres in any external dimension. In this case, the possibility for the end user to return the equipment to the distributor is limited to 3 WEEE per type of equipment.
In the case of distribution exclusively by means of distance communication (§ 312c para. 2 BGB), the following may be returned under the above-mentioned conditions
- old appliances of categories 3, 5 and/or 6
- of old appliances which are not larger than 25 centimetres in any external dimension,
by suitable return facilities at a reasonable distance from the respective end user.
Otherwise, the return shall take place at the place of delivery or in the immediate vicinity thereof.
Distributors must have set up suitable return facilities for this purpose.
3. Information on the possibilities of returning old appliances
Owners of WEEE can hand it in within the framework of the possibilities for the return or collection of WEEE set up and available by public waste management authorities, so that proper disposal of the WEEE is ensured. If necessary, it is also possible to hand in electrical and electronic equipment there for the purpose of reusing the equipment. For more information, please contact the respective collection or take-back point.
You can view an online list of collection and take-back points by clicking on the following link: https://www.ear-system.de/ear-verzeichnis/sammel-und-ruecknahmestellen.
4. Note on data protection
Some of the end-of-life devices to be disposed of contain sensitive personal data (e.g. on a PC or smartphone) which must not fall into the hands of third parties.
We expressly point out that end users of old devices must take responsibility for deleting personal data from the old devices to be disposed of.
5. Note on our WEEE registration number
We are registered with the Stiftung Elektro-Altgeräte Register, Nordostpark 72 in 90411 Nuremberg, Germany, as a manufacturer of electrical and/or electronic equipment under the following registration number (WEEE Reg. No. DE): DE 88015025.
Information requirements according to § 18 para. 2 of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act: https://www.bmuv.de/themen/wasser-ressourcen-abfall/kreislaufwirtschaft/statistiken/elektro-und-elektronikaltgeraete
