BMUV Draft paper on a third law to amend the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act
The BMUV's draft bill for a third law to amend the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) is currently available. The draft has not yet been (finally) agreed within the federal government. Entry into force is planned for 01.01.2026.
The main content of the draft:
On the one hand, the draft law aims to improve the removal of lithium batteries when they are collected at municipal collection centres. On the other hand, more waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is to be collected separately from unsorted municipal waste by strengthening and standardising consumer information and expanding retail collection.
Expansion of collection at retail outlets: In future, the draft law will also allow the so-called 0:1 take-back, i.e. the return of an old small electrical appliance without purchasing a new one, for small electrical appliances with a maximum edge length of up to 50 cm (previously 25 cm).
At municipal recycling centres, where around 80% of separately collected waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from private households is currently collected, the specifications for sorting WEEE are to be further specified in order to improve the removal of lithium batteries and the overall collection quality by preventing damage.
In addition, consumer communication is to be further standardised nationwide and information on the separate collection obligation is to be provided directly at the point of sale.
