Waste management and environmental protection policy

Information in accordance with the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG)

By virtue of the sale of electrical and electronic devices, we are required to notify you of the following:

"Crossed-out waste bin" symbol

All electrical and electronic devices that can be used in private households bear the following symbol with a waste bin crossed out.

This symbol means that electrical and electronic devices must not be disposed of in household waste. Instead, used electrical devices must be collected separately from unsorted municipal waste.

Duty to remove lamps and spent batteries and accumulators

You must remove spent batteries and accumulators that are not built into the used device, and lamps that can be removed without damage to the used device, before disposal at a waste collection point.

Take-back obligation

Under applicable law (for instance in Germany section 17 (1) and (2) of the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (Elektro- und Elektronikgerätegesetz – ElektroG)), we are required to take back electrical and electronic devices under the following conditions:

1. When we hand over a new electrical or electronic device to an end user, we collect a used device of the same type that fulfills essentially the same functions from the end user free of charge at the place of handover or in the immediate vicinity (1:1 exchange). The place of handover is also a private household if the item is delivered and handed over there.

(a) Our obligation to collect devices free of charge is limited to electrical and electronic devices covered by category 1 (temperature exchange equipment), category 2 (screens, monitors, and equipment containing screens having a surface greater than 100 cm²) and category 4 (large equipment (any external dimension more than 50 cm)).

(b) For electrical and electronic devices covered by category 3 (lamps), 5 (small equipment) and 6 (small IT and telecommunication equipment) and for used devices with no external dimension exceeding 25 cm, we ensure 1:1 exchange by providing suitable options to return devices within a reasonable distance. Please see the link below for an overview of which devices are covered by the individual categories:

https://www.stiftung-ear.de/de/themen/elektrog/herstellerbevollmaechtigte/geraetezuordnung

2. At your request, we accept used devices with no external dimension exceeding 25 cm free of charge at or in the immediate vicinity of a retail outlet. Such collection is not linked with the purchase of an electrical or electronic device and is limited to three used devices per type (0:1 exchange).

Options to return devices

We offer the following options to return devices:

You can send your used electrical devices to your respective marketplace retailer for return. We provide a free-of-charge return shipping label for you to do so. Please send your used device to the address given by your marketplace retailer. Please make sure that the used device is properly packaged for shipping to avoid breakage where possible and prevent it from being crushed or smashed. Used devices that present a health and safety risk to humans because of contamination may be refused for return.

For the products referred to under 1.a), you have the option for the electrical and electronic devices to be collected by your respective marketplace retailer. We will inform you of the precise terms and conditions for collection further on in the order process.

Other options to return devices

Private households in Germany can also dispose of used electrical devices free of charge at municipal collection points. Please see the link below for an online directory of the collection and return points in your area:

https://www.ear-system.de/ear-verzeichnis/sammel-und-ruecknahmestellen

Data protection

You bear sole responsibility for deleting personal data.

Further information

Further information can also be found at https://e-schrott-entsorgen.org.

Batteries/accumulators

All consumers are required by law to return spent batteries/accumulators.

The crossed-out waste bin symbol means that batteries and accumulators must not be disposed of in household waste. The following abbreviations are given below the crossed-out waste bin on batteries that contain hazardous substances:

• Pb = battery contains more than 0.004% lead
• Cd = battery contains more than 0.002% cadmium
• Hg = battery contains more than 0.0005% mercury

Please make sure that spent batteries not built into the used device have been removed before you hand it in. You can dispose of spent batteries and accumulators free of charge at a public collection point or at any location they are sold. Normal household quantities of batteries and accumulators that we include or have included in our product range can also be returned free of charge to your respective marketplace retailer.