What else you should know about old electrical appliances and spent batteries

Old electrical appliances and spent batteries may contain substances that are harmful to people and the environment. The regulations applicable in Austria since 2005 for old electrical appliances and since 2008 for spent batteries are therefore also directed at final consumers.

Based on this, the European Parliament has adopted on the recommendation of the Commission a directive on the collection and treatment of old electrical appliances and spent batteries. Its aims are to preserve and protect the environment, to protect human health and to encourage careful use of natural resources.

Marking of electrical appliances and batteries

Possibilities for returning old electrical appliances and spent batteries

Old electrical appliances can be given back directly to the retailer when buying a new appliance with the same function (exception: retailers with a sales area smaller than 150 m². In this case the retailer has a legal obligation to provide information on this exception in the store.

Spent batteries can be returned to the trade at any time even without buying new batteries.

Collection points for old electrical appliances and spent batteries

Old electrical appliances and spent batteries can be handed in at numerous collection points.

Municipal collection points
There is a dense network of around 2,000 local collection points (recycling yards, waste product collection centres, refuse collection points, etc.) available to private final consumers for return of old electrical appliances and spent batteries.
List of municipal collection points for old electrical appliances

District collection points
Interseroh Austria has set up regional collection points at which retailers can deliver the old electrical appliances and spent batteries they have taken back.
List of district collection points

Treatment and recycling of old electrical appliances and spent batteries
Interseroh Austria organises the proper and environmentally compatible treatment and recycling of the reusable parts and substances. State-of-the-art treatment and recycling plants ensure that the hazardous substances such as lead, CFC or mercury are not released uncontrolled into the environment and that valuable secondary raw materials such as iron, aluminium, plastics, copper, zinc, manganese and many other secondary raw materials can be recovered.

Repair or reuse of old electrical appliances also makes a significant contribution to waste avoidance and thus to the preservation of resources. Interseroh Austria cooperates in this regard with socio-economic enterprises.