Germany's New Electrical Law Amendment Fails to Bring Real Change

Oct.10.2024

Germany's DUH criticizes new electrical law amendment as lacking substantial change, calling for higher e-waste recycling rates and more incentives.

According to Press Portal, the German environmental aid agency (DUH) believes that the newly passed amendment to the "Electricity Act" has failed to bring about any substantial change.

Barbara Metz, Federal Executive Director of the German Environmental Protection Association (DUH), stated that...

Through this fake revision, basically all content has not changed. The legally required 65% electronic waste recycling rate can still be underestimated without any consequences. The current industry recycling rate allows some manufacturers to hide behind it, and the current recycling rate is only about 30%, far below the standard. We demand that every manufacturer must meet the prescribed recycling rate. In the future, all sales points can return disposable e-cigarette, but this is far from enough. As long as there are no incentives for consumers to recycle in stores, these small electronic devices will continue to harm the environment. We demand a comprehensive ban on disposable e-cigarettes. At the same time, the situation of reusing is completely ignored. Only 1.7% of collected old devices are refurbished for reuse. We call for mandatory quotas for electronic device reuse, similar to the practices in Spain or Belgium.

In addition, DUH is calling for a deposit system to be implemented for lithium-ion batteries.

References:

[1] Pseudo-Novelle des Elektrogesetzes: Deutsche Umwelthilfe fordert strengere Sammlung und Wiederverwendung von Elektrogeräten sowie Verbot von Einweg-E-Zigaretten

Also Read:

[1] Key Highlights from the 2024 InterTabac: Three-Day International Tobacco Exhibition in Dortmund

[2] German Customs Seize Thousands of Illegal Disposable E-Cigarettes

[3] German Tax Authorities Raid E-cigarette Shops for Tax Evasion

[4] Germany's Drug Commissioner Calls for Restrictions on Cigarette Sales

[5] Illegal E-cigarette Sales in Germany: Growing Concern

[6] The Danger of Lithium Batteries: Preventing Fires in Germany

[7] Proper Disposal Guidelines for E-cigarettes and Disposable Products

[8] German Health Official Calls for Further Restrictions on Smoking Behavior

[9] Challenges and Solutions in Lithium Battery Recycling Industry

#Europe #Disposable e-cigarettes #Regulation #Germany

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