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Devices at the Hamburg recycling center
Photo: Marcus Brandt / dpa
Electronic devices such as smartphones, computers and refrigerators have become an integral part of everyday life.
A corresponding amount of electronic waste is also generated.
The Federal Environment Ministry reports that it is 20 kilos per year and per capita in Germany.
But only a few old devices are returned, and much remains in private households, as the ministry announced.
With a new campaign by the Elektro-Altgeräte Register (EAR) foundation, more citizens are to be encouraged to return their electronic waste.
From July 2022, food retailers will also have to accept old appliances.
"The more waste electrical equipment is collected and high-quality raw materials are recycled, the better we can prevent irreversible damage to people and nature," said Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD).
This means that raw materials that are obtained from old devices do not have to be taken from the earth elsewhere.
“Consumers should be able to dispose of old electrical appliances as easily as possible,” Schulze continued.
Germany is currently failing to meet the requirements of the European Union on the minimum collection target for electronic waste.
These provide for a collection rate of 65 percent - in 2019 Germany only achieved a collection rate of 44.3 percent.
Numerous electrical devices, especially small devices such as electric toothbrushes or alarm clocks, are wrongly disposed of in the residual waste or the recycling bin, criticized the Ministry of the Environment.
With the help of television and outdoor advertising as well as advertisements in online networks, the EAR Foundation wants to better inform consumers about return options.
"If the devices are no longer needed, can no longer be repaired or given away, they are e-waste and should be disposed of correctly," warned the general representative of the foundation, Andrea Menz.
"Whether at the recycling center or in stores - there are many return options".
mmq / AFP
