Distribution and Disposal of Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment in Germany: How Does It Work?

Do you import, sell, or manufacture electronic equipment or electrical products to Germany? If yes, then the model of your business should comply with ElectroG (Germany’s Waste Electrical and Equipment Act). Among many other things, the act needs you to make sure electrical products are disposed of in a more eco-friendly way.

Production and distribution of WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) isn’t just associated with enormous resource consumption. It also results in considerable pollution of the environment.

What WEEE Is

WEEE refers to every end-of-life electronics or electrical product, like TVs, household appliances, telephones, computers, etc. The waste amount in Germany is massively increasing, making it the main source of raw materials to reuse and recover.

The WEEE Directive 2012/19 EU controls the take-back, sale, and proper disposal of waste electrical & electronic equipment in the euro region, including Germany.

Some materials contained in waste electrical and electronic equipment present a risk to the environment. Once equipment is used and not processed and collected correctly, it can result in pollution.

WEEE Categories

Various WEEE categories are based on their compositions and recycling, treatment, and management strategies. These categories include the following:

• Photovoltaic panels
• Gas discharge lamps
• Small appliances
• IT equipment
• Large domestic appliances
• Display equipment
• Cooling appliances

Waste Management in the Country

Germany is celebrated as the world leader when it comes to recycling. Its sorting policies and waste management systems have paved the way for other countries to adopt greener trash collection and disposal practices.

Municipal waste often covers different trash categories, including electrical appliances. Managing such heterogeneous and broad varieties has always been a great challenge for many cities in Germany and worldwide.

But recently, several national and local governments have adopted approaches and designed systems to facilitate waste recycling, sorting, and collection.

As mentioned, the country is regarded as a waste management and recycling leader. Its success narrows down to two key factors: high public awareness and strong government policies applied to recycling.

For government policies, Germany passed three main policies, which improved the waste management systems. These policies are based on the ‘polluter pays’ rule. In this case, private industries and manufacturers are also responsible for covering the costs and eliminating waste.

Choosing Authoritative Representative

You can authorize a legal or natural person registered in the country. Legal documents don’t need the help of a certified expert, but to prevent legal problems, the legal system in the country calls for expert experience and knowledge to avoid issues.

On behalf of your company, an authorized rep will act to fulfil legal objections, such as registering products before they enter the market. For that reason, it is important to choose an authorized representative with the following qualities:

• Experience with communication channels, deadlines, and requirements
• Professionalism in controlling contractors
• Network of recycling organizations for electronics and electrical devices

If you must observe ElektroG as an importer, seller, or manufacturer of electrical products, you will need to ensure that faulty and end-of-life appliances gathered at municipal facilities are disposed of correctly. One way to achieve that is through waste management systems and complying with the WEEE directives of the country.