Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks commented on the Commission's referral of Germany to the ECJ over its failure to transpose the Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment calling it regrettable and unnecessary. "Germany is about to transpose the Directive. The act on electrical appliances will be read in the Bundestag before summer recess and shortly afterwards in the Bundesrat. It is possible that the new act could enter into force in late October, making the Commission's referral void."
Minister Hendricks said that the current German government was not to blame for delays in transposing the Directive. "We started work on this directly after taking office and swiftly launched legislative procedures." It will become easier for consumers to dispose of their old TV sets or computers, for example.
In addition to transposing European provisions of the WEEE Directive, the amended Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) aims to set the course towards recovering valuable metals from waste electrical and electronic equipment. For example, it will be much easier for consumers to return their waste electrical and electronic equipment due to an obligation for retailers to take back equipment, and the provisions will ensure high-quality recycling. In addition, the obligation to take back waste electrical and electronic equipment will be extended to solar modules. Another goal is to limit illegal trade in waste electrical and electronic equipment.
The final reading on the legislative proposal and the recommendations of the Länder on the amended act will take place in the German parliament as early as July 2015. Subsequently, the Bundesrat will hold the second reading on 25 September 2015 so that the amended ElectroG will probably enter into force in late October. The Federal Environment Ministry assumes that this tight schedule will be able to avert the proposed fines.