Current State of E-Waste Sampling in Germany

Since January 2019, the total weight of collected WEEE in each calendar year should be at least 65 percent of the average weight of EEE placed on the market in the three previous calendar years.

by Dipl.-Ing. (TU) Werner P. Bauer

Abstract
The "Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act" from 20.10.2015, (abbreviated to: ElektroG), which will be amended in
spring 2021, is intended to implement the product responsibility of manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment
under waste law. Among other things, the ElektroG regulates the various rights and obligations of manufacturers,
distributors (dealers), public waste management authorities (municipalities), operators of primary treatment facilities, and
consumers. The ElektroG transposes the European Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE
Directive 2012/19/EU) into national law. Compared to the first version of the ElektroG dated March 16, 2005, manufac-
turers (including importers, exporters as well as distributors) of WEEE are now much more responsible for the entire life
cycle of the equipment. Before placing electrical or electronic equipment on the market, each manufacturer must register
with the competent authority - stiftung elektro-altgeräte register (stiftung ear).
Separate product responsibility
For WEEE from private households, the public waste management authorities (municipalities) are obliged to accept it free
of charge at collection points. They must be collected there by the manufacturers and disposed of in a professional and
environmentally sound manner, unless the municipality decides to dispose of the waste equipment itself.
Consumers are required to hand in their discarded WEEE separately from household waste at a collection or take-back point.
Since January 2019, the total weight of collected WEEE in each calendar year should be at least 65 percent of the average
weight of EEE placed on the market in the three previous calendar years. In Germany, more than 2 million tons of electrical
and electronic equipment are placed on the market each year - with a strong upward trend. This leads to an enormous
demand for resources. At the same time, around 1.8 million tons of electrical waste is generated, of which 44.1 percent is
currently collected separately. In Germany, manufacturers or distributors are individually responsible for taking back old
electrical equipment. Binding minimum requirements for the collection of discarded electrical equipment, such as meeting
collection targets or educating consumers, are not prescribed for these individual actors. This system of many individual
players is unique in Europe. Other countries achieve significantly higher collection volumes per capita. So Germany is
currently discussing how to increase its collection rates.

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published: Korea Society of Waste Management, 11|2021
Keywords: Electronic Waste, Germany