Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (WEEE, ElektroG) 

Implementation of the EU WEEE Directive through the Adoption of the ElektroG

The ElektroG implements the European WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU into German law. It regulates the marketing, take-back, and environmentally friendly disposal of electrical and electronic equipment. The law initially came into force in 2005 and was amended in 2015 (ElektroG2) and 2022 (ElektroG3).

We comply with the requirements of the ElektroG.
We are registered with the EAR as a manufacturer: WEEE Registration No.: DE 23942637

Schukat electronic Vertriebs GmbH is aware of its waste management obligations as an importer and distributor and takes them very seriously.

Here, we have outlined the key requirements for handling electrical and electronic equipment:

• Waste electrical and electronic equipment must be collected separately.
• Waste electrical and electronic equipment refers to devices that have become waste.
• These waste items must be collected separately from unsorted municipal waste. They should not be disposed of with household waste but must be disposed of through special collection and take-back systems.
• Electrical appliances that need to be separately collected are marked with the symbol of a crossed-out bin:

• For waste electrical and electronic equipment from private households, there is the option of free disposal at collection points operated by public waste disposal authorities or return points established by manufacturers or distributors in accordance with the ElektroG.
• An online directory of collection and return points can be found here: https://www.ear-system.de/ear-portal/
• The return obligation applies to stores with a sales area of at least 400m² for electrical and electronic equipment, as well as food stores with a total sales area of at least 800m², which offer and place electrical and electronic equipment on the market multiple times a year or permanently.
• The return obligation also applies to sales via distance communication methods if the storage and shipping areas for electrical and electronic equipment are at least 400m², or the total storage and shipping areas are at least 800m².
• Distributors are required to ensure the return of waste equipment by providing appropriate return options at a reasonable distance from the end user.
• Schukat electronic Vertriebs GmbH is connected to the Take-e-Back network. You can find an appropriate return point at a reasonable distance here: https://www.take-e-back.de/Verbraucher-Ruecknahmestellen-finden
• The option for free return of waste electrical equipment is available with return-obligated distributors when a new, similar device, performing essentially the same functions, is sold to an end user. When a new device is delivered to a private household, the similar waste equipment can also be handed over for free collection at the same time. This applies to sales using distance communication methods for devices in categories 1, 2, or 4 under Section 2, Subsection 1 of the ElektroG, namely "heat exchangers," "display devices," or "large appliances" (the latter with at least one external dimension over 50 centimeters). Consumers will be asked about their intent to return when concluding a purchase contract. In addition, free return is possible at the distributor's collection points, independent of purchasing a new device, for waste equipment that is no larger than 25 centimeters in any external dimension, limited to three items per device type.

Data Deletion and Removal of Batteries and Accumulators

• Owners of waste electrical and electronic equipment must, as a general rule, remove waste batteries and accumulators that are not enclosed within the waste equipment, as well as lamps that can be safely removed from the equipment, before handing the equipment over to a collection point.
• Waste electrical and electronic equipment often contains sensitive personal data, especially in information and communication technology devices such as computers and smartphones. Please note, for your own interest, that the removal of personal data on the waste devices to be disposed of is the responsibility of each individual end user.

For more information about the ElektroG, visit the website of the Federal Environment Agency: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/abfall-ressourcen/produktverantwortung-in-der-abfallwirtschaft/elektroaltgeraete/elektro-elektronikgeraetegesetz#sinn-und-zweck-des-elektrog

Quantitative targets of Take-e-Way: https://www.stiftung-ear.de/de/service/statistische-daten/jahres-statistik-mitteilung