WEEE - Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) - Guide for companies
Learn everything you need to know about the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act. Find out what your obligations are and how you can best fulfil them.
Does the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act apply to my company?
The Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act applies to companies that are considered ‘manufacturers’ under the Act.
If one of the points is fulfilled, you are considered a manufacturer under the ElektroG:
You sell electronic devices under your own brand name
You rebrand electrical appliances
You import electrical appliances from abroad
You are offering the electrical appliance for sale in Germany for the first time
You are selling the device from abroad directly to Germany via distance selling
Obligations under the ElektroG in connection with the Stiftung ear
Registration requirement: Before you can sell electrical appliances, you must register with the Stiftung ear. The registration requirement applies to both B2B and B2C appliances. We can take care of the registration for you.
Insolvency-proof guarantee: When registering, you must provide an insolvency-proof guarantee. This serves to ensure that the disposal of your electrical appliances placed on the market can also be financed if your company becomes insolvent. You can obtain this guarantee from us.
Quantity reports: Every month, you must report the types of equipment you have placed on the market to the Stiftung ear. We will forward the quantity reports to the Stiftung ear on your behalf.
Authorised representative: If you do not have a branch in Germany, you must appoint an authorised representative. We will be happy to provide you with an authorised representative.
Collection coordination: Manufacturers must collect the containers provided by local authorities that contain waste electrical equipment upon allocation. The manufacturer then bears the costs of the entire disposal process. Our full service also includes collection coordination, which we take care of at no additional cost.
Our WEEE full service in accordance with the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act
Registration with the Stiftung ear
Quantity reports to the Stiftung ear
Correspondence with the Stiftung ear
We provide the insolvency-proof guarantee
Collection coordination
With 30 years of experience, we manage your obligations under the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act. We would be happy to answer your questions in a non-binding initial consultation. Book an appointment now.
Further obligations under the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act
Here you will find further obligations in addition to those relating to the Stiftung ear.
The products must be designed in such a way that they can be reused as much as possible, easily dismantled and easily recycled.
Devices must be permanently marked. This includes manufacturer identification, date of placing on the market and the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol.
From the moment of offering, private households must be informed about, among other things:
• Obligation to dispose of waste separately,
• Removal of batteries/rechargeable batteries and, if applicable, lamps (if possible),
• Free return by distributors,
• Own return options,
• Personal responsibility for deleting personal data,
• Meaning of the dustbin symbol.
The information must be enclosed with the devices in writing.
B2B end users must at least be informed about the obligation to collect/dispose of waste separately (and, depending on the situation, about further return/symbol information).
For each new type of appliance, reuse and treatment facilities must be provided with information free of charge that enables reuse, preparation for reuse and treatment.
This information may include which components/materials are contained and where hazardous substances/mixtures are located, insofar as this is necessary for treatment/recovery.
What is the Stiftung ear?
The Stiftung ear (stiftung elektro-altgeräte register) acts as the authority responsible for implementing the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG). It was established to monitor compliance with the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act and has been commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency to implement large parts of this Act. The Stiftung ear registers manufacturers who sell or market electrical or electronic equipment in Germany. In addition, the foundation coordinates the collection and installation of transport containers at recycling centres in towns and municipalities. This is to ensure the proper implementation of the European directive on the reduction of electronic waste from disused electrical equipment (WEEE Directive).
What is the WEEE number?
The WEEE number refers to the manufacturer number that is assigned after registration with the Stiftung ear and serves to identify the manufacturer. This number consists of a country code and an eight-digit sequence: WEEE Reg. No. DE 12345678 is the specified format for this identification number. According to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act, the WEEE number must be stated on invoices, delivery notes and quotations – if the WEEE registration number is missing, companies are not authorised to put their equipment into circulation.
As Section 3 I of the ElektroG stipulates that electrical appliances without a WEEE number may not be placed on the market, registration with the Stiftung ear should be applied for at an early stage. We have no influence on the processing time, which can vary between weeks and months. The allocation and specification of the WEEE number ensures legal certainty for the manufacturer and transparency for buyers and resellers.
Further important points regarding the ElektroG explained in a nutshell
Here you will find further important information concerning the regulations under the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act:
Manufacturers and distributors must report the quantities of electrical equipment placed on the market and sold in the previous month to the Stiftung ear on a monthly basis. With us as your partner, you report this information to us and we pass it on to the foundation. With our full-service contract, we enable you to report quantities quickly and easily via a reporting link provided by us. We take care of forwarding it to the Stiftung ear. If you have opted for a warranty and disposal contract, you as the manufacturer must submit the report yourself.
Old electrical appliances from private households must not be disposed of together with household waste or bulky waste. Public waste disposal authorities (örE) must set up collection points where end users can deliver their old electrical appliances. After a full report has been submitted, the Stiftung ear determines which manufacturer is responsible for collecting the old appliances.
In relation to our service, customers are allocated a container for the disposal of electrical appliances depending on the quantity reported. We receive an order from the foundation that the respective container must be collected. As part of our full service, we take care of the scheduling, coordination and disposal for you.
Manufacturers of electrical appliances that are not used in private households (B2B appliances) are obliged to take these back from the end user. A reasonable option for returning these appliances must be provided. The specific details of the return options created must be described. If no reasonable return options are available, we will take over this legal take-back obligation for you with our take-back concept. The take-back concept must be submitted as soon as the registration application is made.
The annual statistics must be submitted to the Stiftung ear once a year by every registered manufacturer or authorised representative. You will receive a notification for the submission of the annual statistics on the Stiftung ear portal at the beginning of February. This must be submitted by 30 April for the previous year. After the deadline, the notifications are checked by the Stiftung ear and forwarded to the Federal Environment Agency. The annual statistics specify the take-back quantities and recycling data or recovery rates for the disposed devices for each type of device. The submission of the annual statistics is part of our full-service contract, which ensures that the notification is made on time. Failure to meet the deadline for submitting the annual statistics may result in fines.
With our WEEE full service
Registration, quantity reports, EAR correspondence, insolvency-proof guarantee and collection coordination.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ElektroG also apply to exports to other EU countries?
No, the ElektroG applies exclusively to the German market and only regulates the placing on the market and disposal of electrical equipment within Germany. If you export your equipment to other EU countries, you must comply with the national laws there, which are based on the WEEE Directive. If you sell your electrical equipment from abroad to Germany, you must act in accordance with the ElektroG.
What is the difference between B2C and B2B devices according to the ElektroG?
B2C devices (for private end users) require an insolvency-proof guarantee for disposal costs, while B2B devices (for commercial users) require a take-back concept and proof of disposal. Both must be registered, but the requirements differ.
Can small online retailers be exempted from the ElektroG?
No, there is no general exemption for small online retailers in the ElektroG. If you sell electrical or electronic equipment – whether new or used, and regardless of the size of your company – you are considered a distributor as soon as you offer equipment without a valid WEEE number from a manufacturer. This means that you must register yourself with the EAR Foundation if your suppliers are not registered. An exception could only apply if you exclusively sell equipment that is not covered by the ElektroG.
What applies to the sale of used equipment?
You need a WEEE registration number and must register the relevant used electrical appliances if they originate from abroad. You are therefore considered a manufacturer or distributor in Germany. If the used electrical appliances originate from Germany, you do not need your own WEEE registration number. This applies as long as you do not sell the electrical appliances under your name or brand name.