Proper disposal of electronic waste

Electrical appliances that are defective or are replaced by better/newer appliances are colloquially referred to as electrical or electronic waste. This also includes individual components and parts, such as cables. This relates to appliances that require electrical currents or electromagnetic fields to operate properly. Televisions, computers, toasters and smartphones are a few examples. LEDs, energy-saving bulbs and fluorescent tubes also count as old electrical appliances. Furniture, clothes and toys with permanently connected electronic parts are also considered electronic waste. If you would like to dispose of an electrically adjustable desk, your children's flashing shoes or battery-operated toys, please put them in the old electrical goods collection.

Passive end devices are also considered electrical or electronic equipment

So-called passive devices must also be disposed of separately as electrical waste. Passive appliances are usable end devices that only conduct electricity, such as sockets or light switches. This also includes all types of aerials and adapters, pre-assembled cables such as audio cables, cable reels, USB cables and extension cables.

If in doubt, always pay attention to the appliance label with the "crossed-out wheeled garbage can", which tells you which appliances must be disposed of properly as electronic waste.

We've all experienced it before: electrical appliances that we use in our everyday lives eventually give up the ghost or need to be replaced. Now the question arises: what to do with the old appliances? Under no circumstances should old or defective electronics end up in normal household waste, but must be disposed of properly. This is important for two reasons:

1. Electrical appliances contain valuable metals and other materials (e.g. copper, aluminum, gold or neodymium). By recycling them, they can be reused in new electrical appliances. This conserves resources.
2. Electrical appliances often contain harmful substances such as mercury and lead. If not disposed of properly, these can be released into the environment and thus endanger our health and the environment itself.

Single-use batteries and rechargeable batteries are not covered by the ElektroG [Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act], but are a component of many electrical appliances. If possible, remove them before handing in the old appliance and hand them in at a retailer or collection point. Many drugstores also offer special collection containers for old batteries. Under no circumstances should batteries be disposed of with household waste! If the battery or rechargeable battery is not easy to remove, do not try to remove it yourself. There are special containers for monitoring these appliances, such as smartphones, tablets or electric toothbrushes, at waste appliance collection points. You can find more information about single-use batteries and rechargeable batteries here.

The data on old electrical and electronic equipment is not deleted at the collection points. Every citizen is responsible for this themselves. If the data is on the storage media of discarded appliances such as digital cameras, computers, MP3 players or cell phones, then you should carry out a special erasure process before disposal to be on the safe side.

Today's technology will be old again tomorrow. That's why old electrical appliances are often replaced with new ones – even though they still work perfectly. The old appliances are then usually stowed away in a drawer as a replacement and then often forgotten about. However, perfectly functioning appliances with batteries then undergo a deep discharge. The result: the electrical appliance breaks down after a certain period of non-use. You should therefore either sell your old appliances that are still in working order (e.g. at flea markets or various online platforms), give them away or donate them. There are many charity organizations that collect used electronics for use in schools, for example. In this case, you should also remove any hard disks or delete them using special programs.

VDE Verband der Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik e.V. and its affiliated companies (hereinafter each “VDE”) provide non-binding information on consumer protection topics. These publications are intended solely to raise general awareness of consumer protection in relation to electrotechnical products and issues. They expressly do not constitute professional or technical advice. The information is provided the best of one's knowledge and belief without having evaluated the actual conditions at a specific location or of a specific product.

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The information may only be applied with the understanding that VDE cannot be held liable for any direct or indirect damage or loss of any kind. The use of the information provided does not release the user from the responsibility for his/her own actions and is therefore at his/her own risk.

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