When you go shopping for the week, you can hand in the old e-waste in the supermarket around the corner – this has been possible for a year. But consumers obviously rarely make use of this option.
Bringing an old electronic device to the recycling center is often tedious and often involves costs. Since July 1 of last year, consumers have had an alternative that involves less effort and costs: consumers can return their old small electrical appliances to most supermarkets and discounter branches.
However, even a year after its introduction, this option is only rarely used, according to a survey by the German Press Agency among the large retail chains.
thousands new ones return points
Germany’s largest grocer, Edeka, reported that the return option was “used rather sporadically”. The competitor Rewe, which also owns the Penny discount chain, said: “So far, little use has been made of the offer in our stores.”
The discounter Lidl announced that the offer was only “reluctantly accepted”. And Aldi Nord also said that the option would “only be used in moderation”. Only the Kaufland chain reported that customers “so far have been happy to accept the opportunity to return electronic devices”. The discounter Netto, which belongs to the Edeka Group, announced that the demand for the return option varies depending on the branch location.
The President of the Federal Environment Agency, Dirk Messner, said at the start of the new regulation last summer that there would be 25,000 additional return points for old electrical equipment in Germany at one go as a result of the new regulation.
Rule does not apply to old TVs
What requirements must be met for a supermarket, discounter or drugstore to take back old electronic devices? First of all, the store must have a sales area of more than 800 square meters. He also has to sell electrical appliances several times a year or permanently. The regular sale of LEDs or electric toothbrushes, for example, is sufficient for this.
Large electrical appliances such as televisions or washing machines do not have to be taken back – unless you buy a similarly sized electrical product in the shop in exchange. Otherwise, the device may only have a maximum edge length of 25 cm; it is primarily about devices such as mobile phones, kettles or toasters.