Environment and disposal – returning batteries, rechargeable batteries and waste electrical equipment
Because we sell batteries and rechargeable batteries and supply devices that contain them, we are required under the German Battery Law Implementation Act (Batterierecht-Durchführungsgesetz, BattDG) and EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 to inform you of the following.
Returning waste batteries
Waste batteries and rechargeable batteries must not be disposed of with household waste. As an end user you are legally obliged to return used batteries.
You can return waste batteries free of charge:
- at the municipal collection points and recycling centres in your area,
- anywhere in retail where batteries of the same type are sold,
- with us: we take back waste batteries of the type we carry or have carried as new batteries free of charge at our dispatch warehouse.
If you would like to send waste batteries to us, please post them with sufficient postage to:
DS Shopping GmbH
Sachsenweg 9
59073 Hamm
Germany
What the symbols on batteries mean
The crossed-out wheelie bin symbol means that the battery must not be placed in household waste. A chemical symbol below it indicates a pollutant:
Pb = battery contains more than 0.004 percent lead by mass
Cd = battery contains more than 0.002 percent cadmium by mass
Hg = battery contains more than 0.0005 percent mercury by mass
Safety information, in particular for lithium batteries
Lithium batteries and lithium rechargeable batteries can catch fire if they are damaged, short-circuited or stored incorrectly. Please note the following:
- Before returning lithium batteries and button cells, tape over the terminals or place each battery in its own bag to prevent short circuits.
- Damaged, swollen, leaking or overheated batteries must not go into the usual collection boxes. Hand these in separately at a municipal collection point and point out the damage.
- Do not open, deform or pierce batteries and never throw them into a fire.
- Store batteries in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children. Swallowing a button cell is life-threatening.
Avoiding waste and extending battery life
The longer a battery lasts, the less waste it creates. These points help:
- Charge rechargeable batteries at room temperature and avoid heat, direct sunlight and repeated deep discharge.
- Do not store rechargeable batteries fully discharged. Top up devices you are not using about every three months.
- Remove batteries from devices you will not be using for a longer period.
- Choose rechargeable batteries over single-use batteries wherever possible.
- Before disposing of a device, check whether it can be repaired or passed on.
Waste batteries contain pollutants and heavy metals that can harm health and the environment. At the same time they hold valuable raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, which separate collection recovers. Thank you for taking part.
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (ElektroG)
The crossed-out wheelie bin symbol on a device means that it must be collected separately from household waste at the end of its life. Disposing of waste electrical and electronic equipment with household waste is prohibited under the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG).
You can hand in waste devices free of charge at the municipal collection points and recycling centres in your area.
Please note before handing a device in:
- Remove batteries and lamps: waste batteries and lamps that can be removed from the device without destroying it must be taken out before you hand it in and disposed of separately. This does not apply to waste devices being prepared for re-use where the battery is permanently installed.
- Delete personal data: you are responsible for deleting personal data from the device. Please remove your data and any memory cards before handing it in.
- Lithium batteries: permanently installed lithium batteries can start fires if damaged. Only hand in damaged devices while pointing out the damage.
Further information on returning batteries is available from Stiftung Gemeinsames Rücknahmesystem Batterien at www.grs-batterien.de. Information on the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act is available from Stiftung Elektro-Altgeräte Register at www.stiftung-ear.de.
You will also find this information in the documents accompanying your delivery or in the operating instructions supplied by the device manufacturer.
