Old electrical appliances accumulate in almost every household over time – from broken chargers to discarded smartphones. However, many of these devices do not end up in recycling, but remain unused or are disposed of incorrectly. They contain valuable raw materials as well as harmful substances that need to be treated properly.

The legislator has created clear rules to make it easier for consumers to return waste. These can be found in the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG). The aim is to make the return process low-threshold and increase the recycling rate.

Courts clarify: retailers must accept electronic waste

Recent court rulings have now made it clear that these legal obligations must actually be implemented. The proceedings against Aldi Nord and Edeka concerned the fact that the companies had not taken back small electrical appliances as prescribed.

The courts ruled in favor of the plaintiff: the obligation to take back goods exists – and is binding. Retailers can therefore not claim that it is difficult to organize returns. In particular, the obligation also applies to food and drugstore chains.

When supermarkets are obliged to take them back

Supermarkets, discount stores and drugstores must take back electronic waste if they:

• have a sales area of at least 800 square meters and
• regularly offer electrical appliances

Small electrical appliances with an edge length of up to 25 centimeters must be taken back free of charge – even without a new purchase. For larger appliances, the return may be linked to the purchase of a comparable product.

What does this mean for consumers in concrete terms?

Consumers can simply take small old appliances with them the next time they go shopping and hand them in at the store – at no extra cost and with no obligation to buy. Typical examples:

• Smartphones and old cell phones
• Chargers and cables
• Electric toothbrushes or shavers
• small kitchen appliances

Why the judgments are so important

Although the legal regulations have been in place for some time, they have not always been consistently implemented in practice. The current rulings provide clarity and increase the pressure on companies to comply with their obligations. At the same time, they strengthen the position of consumers.

What specific obligations retailers have

In addition to simply taking them back, retailers must provide suitable collection points and recycle the appliances properly. There is also an obligation to provide information: consumers should be able to clearly identify where they can hand in their old appliances.

Recommendation for action

Returning electronic waste has become easier for consumers than many people think. Large supermarkets are legally obliged to accept small appliances free of charge – even if they are not purchased new. If you know your rights, you can easily dispose of electronic waste in your everyday life and help protect the environment at the same time.