The taking back of small electrical and electronic devices in the retail sector planned in the new ElektroG (Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act = German WEEE conversion) does not only result in bureaucratic burdens for the retail industry which is obliged to take back such devices, but is also counteracted by the ADR requirements (dangerous goods).
Among others the ADR requirements state that lots of these devices may only be transported to the recycling plants if they are individually packed due to high-performance batteries in such devices and due to the involved risk of explosion and fire.
Based on our experience we simply think that it is an illusion to believe that the citizens would package their used small electrical and electronic devices before they return them to the retailers.
From our point of view it is also not reasonable to require the retail sector to package each device or remove the batteries from each individual device.
We are afraid that the risk of explosion and fire which may originate from such small electrical and electronic devices would in this way be transferred in the basements, attics and drawers of the citizens.
From the point of view of the VERE Association this shows once again that each ministry or each authority enacts its own laws and regulations on European as well as on federal level which are not only difficult to understand for the citizens, but which are sometimes even contradictory.
This is diametrically opposed to an intelligent environmental policy.
We hope that in the near future there will be a coordination centre which avoids the irrationality of some regulations for practical persons as well as on European and federal level.
Among others the ADR requirements state that lots of these devices may only be transported to the recycling plants if they are individually packed due to high-performance batteries in such devices and due to the involved risk of explosion and fire.
Based on our experience we simply think that it is an illusion to believe that the citizens would package their used small electrical and electronic devices before they return them to the retailers.
From our point of view it is also not reasonable to require the retail sector to package each device or remove the batteries from each individual device.
We are afraid that the risk of explosion and fire which may originate from such small electrical and electronic devices would in this way be transferred in the basements, attics and drawers of the citizens.
From the point of view of the VERE Association this shows once again that each ministry or each authority enacts its own laws and regulations on European as well as on federal level which are not only difficult to understand for the citizens, but which are sometimes even contradictory.
This is diametrically opposed to an intelligent environmental policy.
We hope that in the near future there will be a coordination centre which avoids the irrationality of some regulations for practical persons as well as on European and federal level.
