Berlin: Environmental Aid criticizes new electrical law - disposal remains inadequate

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Find out in our article how the new amendment to the electrical law regulates electronic waste and the disposal of old electrical appliances. Deutsche Environmental Aid expresses sharp criticism of the measures and demands stricter requirements for manufacturers, return options for disposable e-cigarettes and a binding reusing rate. Read which urgent changes are necessary to minimize the environmental impact and to reduce the risk of fire by lithium-ion batteries.
Find out in our article how the new amendment to the electrical law regulates electronic waste and the disposal of old electrical appliances. Deutsche Environmental Aid expresses sharp criticism of the measures and demands stricter requirements for manufacturers, return options for disposable e-cigarettes and a binding reusing rate. Read which urgent changes are necessary to minimize the environmental impact and to reduce the risk of fire by lithium-ion batteries. (Symbolbild/MB)

The alarming numbers and a passionate appeal have thrown the light on an urgent problem: The Federal Cabinet has now passed the novella of the electrical law, but the German environmental aid (DUH) is alarm! The new regulations for the disposal of electrical appliances, batteries and disposable e-cigarettes are a shocking failure, according to the critics.

"With this pseudo-amendment everything remains essentially the same"-this clear statement by Barbara Metz, the federal manager of the DUH, hits waves! The legal collection rate for electronic waste of 65 percent, which actually only remains an empty promise of promise, can still be undercut. Only around 30 percent of the providers meet this quota, and this is tacitly accepted by the industry.

Renual pollution

Where to go with the old electrical appliances? This question remains unanswered. Metz warns: "As long as there is no incentives for consumers to return their small electrical appliances, in the worst case they disappear in nature！" The DUH rigorously demands a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes. This novelty is simply not enough - responsibility cannot be deported further!

But that's not all! The fire risk from incorrectly disposed of electrical devices with lithium-ion batteries is also only half-hearted in the new law. An improvement in the removal of batteries is planned, but this only applies to the delivery at recycling centers, not in stores. Tragic, but true: Electrical devices with dangerous batteries can still end in household waste. The DUH sees a need for action here and calls for a deposit system for lithium-ion batteries.

A call to action

The situation is serious and the clock ticks! While Spain and Belgium introduce binding odds to reuse electrical appliances, Germany remains. Alarming is also the fact that only 1.7 percent of the old devices collected are prepared for reuse.

The DUH calls the federal government to act: "Every manufacturer must adhere to the set collection rates!" The pressure is growing and public attention is aimed at this pressing topic. It cannot be that nature continues to be loaded with electronic waste while politics is standing.