Leipzig city cleaning stops pilot project for small electrical appliances!

Leipzig city cleaning stops pilot project for small electrical appliances!

The Leipzig city cleaning department recently completed the pilot project “Collection containers for small electrical appliances”. After a one-year evaluation phase that ended on July 1, 2025, it became apparent that the goal of creating better options for dispensing small electrical devices that were no longer used or were defective was not met. Above all, the city wanted to avoid these devices ending up in the residual waste bin, as lithium-ion batteries in particular can cause fires there. From October 1, 2024, appropriate collection containers were available at nine recycling islands in the city, but the evaluation produced unpleasant results.

There were numerous problems, including unauthorized deposits and incorrect deposits, which significantly affected the operational readiness of the collection containers. Disturbing secondary deposits such as residual waste and dog waste bags contributed to the deterioration in the cleanliness of the surrounding area. The removal of valuable components from the old devices also represented a major obstacle to correct disposal. In view of these difficulties, the city cleaning department decided not to continue the project, which will probably have an impact on the collection of old electrical devices.

Alternatives to disposing of electronic waste

What to do if the old electrical device is no longer needed? The Leipzig city cleaning service recommends a number of alternatives for professional disposal. One option is to return it to the retailer when purchasing a new device. Old electrical appliances can be handed in there free of charge, and they can also be accepted free of charge at the city cleaning department's 15 recycling centers. A token of 14 euros per device is required for collection from the property. It is also important that personal data on storage media such as PCs or tablets must be deleted beforehand.

Computers and smartphones that are no longer functional can also be handed in to inab, the training and employment company of bfw mbH. This initiative even aims to repair discarded devices and provide social facilities such as mother centers and senior citizens' associations. A drop-off point is at Weißenfelser Straße 73, 1st floor. Appointments for collection are possible on 0341 47839058 or by email to schussee.bettina@inab-jugend.de.

The correct handling of old electrical devices

The correct disposal of electrical devices is not only of legal importance, but also of great relevance for the environment. According to the Federal Environment Agency, electrical devices must under no circumstances be disposed of with household waste, bulky waste or packaging waste. Alternatively, there are numerous municipal collection points that enable environmentally friendly disposal. Handing it over to online or mail order retailers is also easy: when new devices are delivered, the old device can often be taken away free of charge. Finally, it is important that batteries are removed from devices before return to avoid fires at waste disposal companies.

All products that have a cable, plug or battery count as electrical devices and must be disposed of properly. The legal regulation requires the separate collection of old electrical devices because they contain valuable raw materials that can be recovered through recycling. The “Dispose of e-waste easily and correctly” campaign also offers comprehensive information on how to deal with old electrical devices.

In Germany, over one million tons of old electrical devices were collected in 2021, which corresponds to around 11.1 kilograms per inhabitant. However, the minimum collection rate of 45 percent was missed in the last survey. With a view to protecting the environment and complying with legal regulations, it is therefore crucial not to carelessly throw away old electrical devices, but rather to hand them over to the designated places. Together, everyone can do their part to protect the environment and safety standards.

Leipziginfo reports that The Leipzig city cleaning service is not continuing the pilot project due to insufficient use. The necessary steps to properly dispose of electronic waste are over City cleaning Leipzig and the Federal Environment Agency easy to read.