No. 170/06
Berlin, 30 June 2006

Fewer hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment

Third Phase of Act on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Enters into Force

As of 1 July 2006 manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment are required to substitute lead, cadmium, mercury, specific chromium compounds and brominated flame retardants in new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market.

Banning these environmental pollutants from electrical and electronic equipment will protect people and the environment even better against pollutant loads and improve the recyclability of products. Exemptions are only provided for in the respective EU Directive if substitution is not possible from the scientific and technical point of view. The EU Commission will decide on granting exemptions on a case by case basis, taking into account technical and scientific progress.

Since the entry into force of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) manufacturers have had to take disposal costs of products into account even in the design stage, as consumers can return old equipment to local collection points free of charge as of March 2006. Manufacturers and importers have to pick up waste equipment at these collection sites and dispose of them. This has brought about a major reduction in the pollutant load of municipal waste. The volume of waste electrical and electronic equipment to be disposed of in such a way is estimated at 1.8 tonnes per year.

Further information:

• Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act - ElektroG
• Information on respective EU directives and current work by the EU Commission