We are pleased to bring you closer to a few important topics from our daily work. In no particular order, we would like to explain the common terms that you regularly read in our article. In this issue we clarify what the Stiftung ear is and why it is so important for our work.
Our news is about the packaging labeling obligation in Bulgaria and the recycling quotas for electrical appliances from 2020 in Germany.
We hope you enjoy reading our newsletter and look forward to your feedback.
With best regards, Deutsche Recycling
Bulgaria: Packaging labeling obligation comes into force
For all packaging placed on the market in Bulgaria for the first time since 01.01.2022, the new labeling obligation has come into force.
Bulgaria had already renewed its packaging ordinance on January 08, 2021. The aim of the amendment was to make separate collection easier for citizens. Just as in Germany and other EU countries, the distributors are responsible for the collection and treatment of waste from their products within the framework of extended producer responsibility.
The Bulgarian Packaging Ordinance provides the alphanumeric codes of the EU Decision 97/129/EC to identify the packaging material. The code must be placed in the center of the Möbius circle. The "tidyman" must also be clearly legible and permanently affixed to the packaging component with the greatest weight or a label.
For foreign companies, the packaging labeling obligation applies when they export products to end users in Bulgaria. With the quantity declaration and payment of disposal costs, these obligations are fulfilled for manufacturers. The obligation remains to minimize the packaging itself and its hazardous substances, to provide the required declarations of conformity and to mark the packaging with disposal instructions. A fine of between €5,000 and €25,000 will be imposed for any breach.
It is often mentioned in our articles - the stiftung ear. But what exactly is it all about? The stiftung elektro-altgeräte register (stiftung ear) was founded in 2004 as a "joint body" of the manufacturers. You can find out what the foundation's tasks are and what this has to do with us on our website.
Germany: In 2020, more than 1 million electrical appliances were recycled
The amount of WEEE accepted for primary treatment was increased by almost 10%.
The Federal Statistical Office recently published the latest figures on the quantities of WEEE returned and recycled in 2020, showing that the volume of WEEE accepted for initial treatment increased by 9.5% or 89,900 tons compared to 2019. The recycling rate, i.e. the percentage of equipment recycled or prepared for reuse, increases by 1.3 percentage points to 86.7% compared to 2019.
On the way to a functioning circular economy, this is already a step in the right direction, but there is still room for improvement. For example, only a fraction (1.9%) of the appliances were returned to their original intended use through measures such as repairs. To ensure that even more devices are collected properly in the future, the ElektroG3 has further simplified the return options for e-waste for citizens. From July 1, 2022, supermarkets and discount grocery stores with a total sales area of at least 800m² will also have to take back waste electrical equipment.
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