Skip to content 
ElektroG
Old laptops, monitors and servers do not belong in the residual waste. This follows from the ElektroG, the central law for electrical and electronic equipment in Germany. It regulates who takes back old devices, how they are treated and what obligations you have as a user, right down to erasing the data.
In brief
The ElektroG (German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act) is the German law on placing on the market, take-back and environmentally sound disposal of electrical and electronic equipment. It implements the European WEEE Directive and distributes obligations among manufacturers, dealers, users and disposers. For IT retirement, the following is important: old devices must be collected separately, and the user is themselves responsible for erasing personal data.
What does the ElektroG regulate?
The ElektroG in the 2015 version implements the WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU into German law. WEEE stands for "Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment". The law has been amended several times since, most recently fundamentally with the amendment that entered into force in early 2022. The aim is to avoid waste from electrical equipment, reuse devices and recover raw materials. The ElektroG thus supplements the Circular Economy Act.
| Parties involved | Key obligations under the ElektroG |
|---|---|
| Brand | Registration with the stiftung ear before placing on the market, indication of the WEEE reg. no., marking with the crossed-out wheeled bin, take-back and financing of disposal |
| Dealers (distributors) | Take-back of old devices from certain sales floor sizes, information obligations |
| Owners and users | Separate collection instead of residual waste, removal of old batteries and lamps that can be removed non-destructively, erasure of personal data under own responsibility |
| Treatment facilities | Initial treatment only in certified initial treatment facilities, check for reuse, removal of pollutants |
Old devices are divided at collection into collection groups , for example screens, large appliances or small appliances and small IT devices. The legal status of this entry corresponds to the status as of 10/2026.
What does the ElektroG mean for companies?
For private households there are municipal collection points. Companies, by contrast, mostly use other routes. For devices that are typically used only commercially, one speaks of B2B devices. Here manufacturers must provide a reasonable return option. Companies can also hand their old devices over to a service provider that recovers them properly.
You should observe three points with every retirement:
- Data: The law obliges manufacturers to point users to their own responsibility for erasing personal data. Responsibility for erasure therefore remains with you.
- Batteries: Old batteries that are not permanently installed in the device must be removed before handing over at a collection point.
- Reuse: Before treatment, it must be checked whether a device or parts of it can be reused. Working devices should therefore not end up in the shredder unchecked.
Rule of thumb: The ElektroG regulates where an old device belongs. It does not regulate who erases the data on it for you; that remains your task.
ElektroG and certified waste management company
The ElektroG regulates electrical equipment, the Circular Economy Act the handling of waste in general. A certified waste management company under § 56 KrWG is a company that is certified for certain activities and regularly monitored. What this certificate means and what you should look out for is explained in our guide Certified waste management company and ElektroG. How this looks for printers with a built-in hard drive is shown in the article Disposing of printers in a company.
Second IT is a certified waste management company under § 56 KrWG. Before disposal, data is erased with certification or data carriers are destroyed in-house. Working devices are refurbished and remarketed, the rest is properly recycled. You receive recycling and disposal certificates for your CSR and ESG reporting. More on IT disposal under the German Circular Economy Act. This entry does not replace legal advice.
Frequently asked questions about the ElektroG
Does the ElektroG also apply to companies?
Yes. The law applies to all owners of old devices. Companies may not dispose of waste electrical equipment via residual waste and must collect it separately. For commercially used devices there are separate take-back routes via manufacturers or service providers.
Does the disposal company have to erase my data?
Under the ElektroG, erasing personal data is the user's own responsibility. You can commission a service provider to do so, but should have the erasure proven per device.
What is the difference between the ElektroG and the WEEE Directive?
The WEEE Directive is European law and sets the objectives. The ElektroG implements it in Germany and regulates the specific obligations, such as registration with the stiftung ear.
Do I have to remove batteries before handing over old devices?
Yes, if they can be removed non-destructively. The ElektroG requires that old batteries and lamps that are not permanently installed be removed before handing over at a collection point. Permanently installed batteries remain in the device.
What are B2B devices under the ElektroG?
These are devices that are typically used only commercially. Manufacturers must provide a reasonable return option for them. Companies can also hand their old devices over to a service provider that recovers them properly.
Dispose of old devices in compliance with the law, after certified data erasure.
Send us your device list. You will receive your offer in 48 hours on average.