Dispose of electrical appliances correctly

Electrical appliances require electricity to operate. This means that all appliances that have a mains plug, a battery, a rechargeable battery or a solar cell are electrical appliances. If the appliance consists mainly of electronic components, it is an electronic appliance. But where can these be handed in or disposed of in an environmentally friendly way? Here you will find helpful tips and answers to the most important questions about the disposal of small electrical appliances in the city of Erlangen.

Disposing of small appliances

There are collection containers for small electrical appliances at 69 locations in the city, next to existing collection containers for used glass. All small electrical appliances that fit through the opening in the lid of the collection container (opening approx. 15 x 26 cm) are collected. You can recognize the grey collection containers by the sticker and the orange lid. You can see the current locations of the small electrical appliance collection containers in the city's digital waste calendar.

To the collection container locations in the waste calendar

Overview of the types of appliances that can be disposed of in the collection containers:

• Small household appliances: for example, cordless vacuum cleaners, handheld vacuum cleaners, irons, egg stoves, electric toothbrushes, hairdryers, coffee machines, blenders, whisks, clock radios, shavers, calculators, toasters, clocks, scales, kettles
• IT and telecommunications equipment: e.g. answering machines, computer parts, cell phones, mice, keyboards, telephones; no monitors or televisions!
• Consumer electronics devices: e.g. baby monitors, Gameboys, small radios, small loudspeakers, MP3 and CD players, gaming machines, stereo systems, walkmans and discmans, cameras, camcorders, modems, satellite receivers
• Lighting fixtures: for example light garlands, Christmas lights, LEDs (none with fragile glass bodies, please); no energy-saving lamps or fluorescent tubes!
• Electrical and electronic tools: e.g. cordless screwdrivers, drills, milling machines, pumps, saws, grinders
• Electric toys: for example, iron and racing tracks, game consoles
• Medical devices: for example infusion pumps, measuring devices
• Monitoring and control instruments: e.g. motion detectors, smoke detectors
  

Please note:

• Please always dispose of devices without batteries and rechargeable batteries (please take removed lithium-ion batteries and devices with built-in rechargeable batteries to the hazardous waste collection point - see address below)
• Do not place or put anything next to the garbage can
• Do not remove anything from the collection bin

Dispose of larger electrical appliances

Use the bulky waste service or the waste transfer station at the port to dispose of larger electrical appliances.

Once a year, you can have all groups of electronic and electrical appliances collected free of charge as bulky waste.

Order bulky waste

The waste transfer station at the harbor belongs to the ZVA (Zweckverband Abfallwirtschaft Erlangen/Erlangen-Höchstadt). You can also dispose of small electrical appliances there free of charge in normal household quantities. The special-purpose association under public law collects all waste for recycling/disposal as well as hazardous waste. You can also deliver hazardous waste free of charge to the hazardous waste collection point at the waste transfer station.

Information on the waste transfer station at the port

Other options for disposing of electrical appliances

In addition to the options mentioned above, there are other facilities in Erlangen where you can drop off your old electrical appliances free of charge or have them collected

Electronics stores and food retailers in the city area

Since 2015, retailers of electrical and electronic appliances with a sales area of more than 400 square meters have been legally obliged to accept small old appliances free of charge and larger old appliances free of charge with new purchases. From July 2022, old appliances can also be handed in at food retailers if the sales area is more than 800 square meters and electrical and electronic appliances are sold there several times a year or permanently. A list of retailers in the city of Erlangen that accept such appliances can be requested from the waste advisory service of the city of Erlangen from September 2022. Please email abfallberatung@stadt.erlangen.de for the current list.

Not everything has to be thrown away straight away

Do you have an electronic device that works perfectly but you no longer use in your household? Perhaps someone is looking for it. By passing it on instead of throwing it away, you are making an important contribution to environmental and climate protection.

In Erlangen, there are various options for exchanging and passing on items:

Erlangen give-away and swap exchange

You can post an ad online on the Erlangen Gift and Swap Exchange to give away your device or swap it for another item. The contact between sellers and interested parties is made by telephone from private to private. Would you like to exchange an appliance? Simply enter the item you wish to exchange in the text field.

Erlangen social department store

The employees of the Erlangen social department store will pick up working electrical appliances free of charge in the city of Erlangen. Please call 9200-4599 to arrange an appointment in advance. To arrange collection, please send a short email with your telephone number to sozialkaufhaus@stadt.erlangen.de.

Project "from private for private"

Electrical appliances are given a second chance at the Erlangen waste transfer station. Two shelves are available for appliances that are in working order or slightly in need of repair. These are collected once a week and donated to charitable institutions. Laptops, PCs, monitors, televisions, hi-fi systems and tools are popular.

Free shop

The Umsonstladen Erlangen was founded over 10 years ago as an initiative of the youth organization Bund Naturschutz. It aims to show a completely different side of consumption and offer a sustainable alternative to the throwaway society.

Clever new purchases - get advice!

Are you planning to buy a new electrical appliance? Get advice before you buy! At the Energy Advice Center (EBZ) of Erlangen's public utility company, you can find out which appliances have the lowest energy and water consumption.

More information about the Energy Advice Center