Germany
Overview of introduced and upcoming mandatory waste charges for foreign sellers in Germany.
The German Packaging Act
According to this law, a manufacturer or distributor who puts packaging material into circulation in Germany is obliged to report this packaging and deduct a fee from it.
Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister - LUCID
All dual systems and all producers of packaging waste (first distributors, online sellers, importers, etc.) are continuously reporting the amount of waste produced to the “Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister” (ZSVR), the packaging register in Czech. everyone can check for free in the public register (LUCID) that producers (producer x producer consultation) are properly fulfilling their legal obligations. Producers of packaging waste who fail to ensure compliance can be subject to heavy fines of up to €200,000.
Paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, wooden, glass and other transport packaging and product packaging falling within the area of recycling according to the Packaging Act
Light bulbs, lamps, 3c, digital electronic toys, light up clothing/shoes etc., from air conditioners and refrigerators to data lines, all fall within the recycling area of the WEE Act
Dry battery, lithium battery, button battery, nickel-carbon battery, lead acid battery, etc.
If you sell products without batteries, you do not need to register under the Battery Act.
From 2022
As of January 1, 2022, the following mandatory waste fees for foreign sellers in Germany have been introduced:
- Packaging
- WEEE - Electronics
- Batteries
- 01/01/2022
- 01/01/2022
- 01/01/2022
From 2024
The following categories will be introduced from 2024:
- Single Use Plastics
- 01/01/2024
From 2022
As of January 1, 2022, the following mandatory waste fees for foreign sellers in Germany have been introduced:
- Packaging:
- 01/01/2022
- WEEE - Electronics:
- 01/01/2022
- Batteries:
- 01/01/2022
From 2024
The following categories will be introduced from 2024:
- Single Use Plastics:
- 01/01/2024
