take-e-way News and Press Releases

With the many different types of packaging, it is difficult for consumers to keep track of what belongs in which recycling bin. To facilitate waste sorting, Denmark developed a voluntary pictogram system in 2016, which is now also being implemented in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. This flexible but uniform colour, terminology and symbol system has already been introduced in over 90 % of Danish municipalities, not only in recycling centres, recycling stations and residential areas, but also on packaging materials. Do you place packaging on the market in the Scandinavian countries? You can then use these pictograms free of charge and thus create a visual link for consumers between the empty packaging and the correct recycling container. As such you can make a valuable contribution to the circular economy.

The rule of thumb is that the first economic operator placing an electrical/electronic device, packaging or a battery on the market is responsible for proper registration of the product and participation in country-specific take-back systems. The complexity of national legislation, as well as of the offerings of individual compliance systems, is immense. Both country-specific legislation and system performance are subject to constant change and must be continuously monitored and adapted to changing framework conditions. The consultants from take-e-way’s “International Compliance” team can provide guidance here.

In this video, our colleague Florian Spreu introduces the “International Compliance” team and the services rendered by take-e-way concerning international sales of electric equipment, packaging and batteries subject to legal certainty.

Industrial batteries, by definition, are all batteries that are not automotive or device batteries. In this context, automotive batteries are defined as batteries intended for the starter, lighting or ignition of vehicles, but not for their propulsion. In contrast, device batteries are encapsulated batteries that can be held in one hand. This leaves a large delta between device batteries and automotive batteries, which belong to the category of industrial batteries. These include, for instance, batteries for electric vehicles and e-scooters, but also for other technical devices, provided that they cannot be “held in one hand” (Section 2 No. 6. Batteries Act (BattG)). Industrial batteries are also required to be registered with the EAR foundation (German WEEE registration board). At the time of registration, a declaration must be submitted to the effect that a return facility has been set up, as well as information on how last owners entitled to a return can access the return facility. Accordingly, manufacturers are tasked with creating a sustainable and comprehensive return option or facility. We offer a solution of this kind with our new contract for registration and return of industrial batteries.

Today we report on the latest developments in France, as related decrees ensured by the French government have been officialised during the first weeks of January. Targeting to tackle the struggle of ever increasing waste and paving the way towards a circular economy (AGEC), the following overview will provide you the main changes implemented.

take-e-way had recently reported that in the first two weeks of March (1 – 18 March 2021), traders would need to replace labels for mains-operated refrigerators with direct sales function, mains-operated refrigerators between 10 and 1,500 litres in volume, mains-operated household dishwashers, television sets, monitors, certain signage displays, washing machines and washer-dryers. As of 1 September 2021, all E-labels for light sources must also be changed accordingly. However, the entry in the EPREL database (from which the energy labels are generated) is required from as early as 1 May 2021. Uncertainties currently exist in the market regarding the deadlines for relabelling since it is not always clear which requirement needs to be applied when reading the underlying legislation (Delegated Regulation 2019/2015/EU and Framework Regulation 2017/1369/EU). For the reasons specified above, it is advisable to deal with this topic in good time.

In spite of the pandemic, both the authorities and take-back schemes have been persistent in checking the compliances of companies regarding the national implementation of the WEEE (2012/19/EU), Battery (2006/66/EG) and Packaging (94/62/EG) Directives. In 2020 we were keen to participate, coordinate and support many of our clients in numerous audits. We would like to present to you a retrospect of the audits done in some countries last year and share the lessons we have learned so far. Through these experiences, we gained greater understanding of the subject to better support you.

According to the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, on 21 January 2021 the Federal Cabinet adopted a resolution on a proposal by Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze to amend the Packaging Act. Key content of the legislative amendment: In future, online marketplaces and fulfilment service providers will need to verify that manufacturers of packaged goods on their platform are listed with the German Foundation Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) and comply with the Packaging Act. According to our latest information available, the Act is to take effect on 3 July 2021.

The list of registered producers and registered authorised representatives according to the German Batteries Act (BattG) is online. This enables competitors and public authorities, i.e. practically anyone to establish whether your batteries are duly registered. This involves new risks of being admonished if the required registration under the Batteries Act is not in hand.

In the first two weeks of March (1 – 18 March 2021), retailers must replace labels for mains operated refrigerators with direct sales function, mains operated refrigerators between 10 and 1500 litres in volume, mains operated household dishwashers, television sets, monitors, certain signage displays, washing machines and washer-dryers. This concerns both the products in shops and products offered on the Internet. Before that, only old energy labels may be shown, and afterwards only new ones. Missing labels must be requested from the relevant suppliers. If there is no new label, then the equipment affected must be sold off by 1 December 2021. Please bear in mind that the new labels must have corresponding test reports that must be placed in the EPREL database. If these are lacking, then new labelling is not possible. Preparing a test report is time-consuming, so please act promptly.