Update to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) amendment

Back in December 2024, the then coalition government had already passed a draft bill (20/14146) to amend the ElektroG. However, due to the change of government, the bill was not put to a vote in the Bundestag. Now, on Thursday, 11 September 2025, the new federal government has introduced its own draft bill (21/1506) to the Bundestag. This was debated in its first reading and then referred to the Committee on the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. 

Implementation of new EU requirements 

The amendment is intended to transpose a change to the EU Directive of March 2024 into national law. The aim is to increase the collection rates for waste electrical equipment and reduce fire risks caused by incorrectly disposed of or damaged lithium batteries. 

Municipal recycling centres, which the Federal Government states collect approximately 80 per cent of waste equipment from private households, are to receive more precise guidelines for sorting in future. This should reduce any damage to the batteries that are permanently installed in many devices during removal and collection. 

More return options in shops 

Consumers should also find it easier to dispose of their old electrical appliances correctly. The plan is to require collection points in shops to be uniformly marked so that they are easier to find. The symbol of a crossed-out wheeled bin indicates the separate disposal requirement, either in-store or online.  

Disposable e-cigarettes 

There is a particular focus on disposable e-cigarettes. These often end up in residual waste or in the environment. In the future, they will be returnable free of charge wherever they are sold. As outlined in the draft, the return of e-cigarettes must not be linked to the purchase of a new one.