WHAT TO DO WITH OLD MOBILE PHONES, REFRIGERATORS, ETC.?

ELEKTRO-ADE EXPLAINS THE PROCESS AND HELPS YOU FIND YOUR NEAREST COLLECTION CENTRE!

HER MIT LEER (RECYCLE) – new in-store battery collection boxes

From July onwards, new battery collection boxes with a uniform design will be available for you to return your used (recyclable) batteries in all Austrian supermarkets, specialist electronics stores, drugstores, etc. HER MIT LEER (RECYCLE) is the slogan of HERMIT, the character on the new, white cardboard boxes.

Read more...
VIDEOS

On Thursday, August 1, 2019, the Austrian Coordination Body introduced family Watt. Their first video with advices concerning the collection and recycling of old electrical appliances and used batteries is already online.

This and other interesting videos can be found here...
NEWS IN YOUR INBOX

The EAK’s electronic newsletter is emailed to subscribers three times a year to keep you up to date on topics of current interest. An online archive lets you browse through older editions from previous years. Sign up with our online form to subscribe to the newsletter.

Read more...
MUNICIPAL COLLECTION CENTRES

With approximately 2000 collection centres nationwide, Austria offers an extensive network of drop-off sites for used batteries and waste electrical and electronic equipment. Use our Collection Centre Finder to easily locate the collection centre nearest you.
Show Austria map...
ELEKTRO-NICK

The EAK created this prize to honour exceptional accomplishments in waste management consulting. The selected theme for the 2017 Elektro-Nick competition was “Stopping illegal exports of waste electrical and electronic equipment”. Read more...
SCHOOL KIT

Since 2014, the Used Electronics and Batteries School Kit has been employed as an educational tool in Austrian schools to teach kids about topics like scarce resources and recycling in a fun, hands-on way.

Read more...

DISPOSING OF APPLIANCES AND DEVICES - EASY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND

Small appliances

Not even the smallest electrical appliances and electronic devices should be thrown in the household rubbish – they’re far too valuable! “Small devices” include any appliance or device with an edge length of less than 50 cm. When properly collected and professionally processed, they are a source of many important raw materials.Weiterlesen
more information
Large appliances

What do I do with a broken washing machine or an old refrigerator?

There are a number of options for the proper collection, disposal and reuse of broken or unwanted appliances.

All of them are free for consumers – and good for our environment.Weiterlesen
more information
Mobile phones

Your mobile phone has served you well for years,
but now it’s old and outdated.
When properly collected, old mobile phones can still be reused.
Through proper recycling of broken mobile phones, lots of valuable raw materials can be recovered.Weiterlesen
more information
Light bulbs

Have the lights gone out? Energy-saving bulbs and fluorescent tubes contain mercury, so they don’t belong in the bin with household rubbish. Instead, they must be separated from other rubbish and protected from breaking, then dropped off at collection centres (also known as “Mistplätze” or “Recyclinghöfe” in Austria).Weiterlesen
more information
Batteries

Batteries contain a variety of valuable raw materials – and hazardous materials too.

Therefore, they must not be disposed of with household rubbish.
Instead, they should be returned to the shop or to your local
collection centre.Weiterlesen
more information

FACEBOOK

Collection centres

Detailed view List of Collection Centres

Contact

If you still have questions or suggestions for our website, or have not been able to find what you’re looking for, feel free to contact us with your concerns, and we will attempt to answer your questions as quickly as possible.

To contact us, please use the contact form.

NEWS

HER MIT LEER (RECYCLE) – new in-store battery collection boxes

From July onwards, new battery collection boxes with a uniform design will be available for you to return your used (recyclable) batteries in all Austrian supermarkets, specialist electronics stores, drugstores, etc. HER MIT LEER (RECYCLE) is the slogan of HERMIT, the character on the new, white cardboard boxes. All companies that sell batteries also have to take back used batteries, whether you buy more or not. So all you have to do is take your used batteries and smaller rechargeable batteries along with you when you’re next heading to the store. The collection boxes are usually located at the checkout counter, in the entrance area, or on the packing tables.

The (rechargeable) batteries can be thrown into the collection boxes without any need for sorting. But please note that you may only return small and completely undamaged (rechargeable) batteries using the boxes!

How do I recognize damaged (rechargeable) batteries?

A damaged lithium battery is recognizable by the likes of deformations and melting points on the housing, leaking liquid or excessive heat generation even when switched off. Even the smallest instance of damage to the internal rechargeable battery separators, which is not visible from the outside, can lead to short-circuits and thus to spontaneous combustion. So used lithium rechargeable batteries (from the likes of cell phones or cameras) and monobloc batteries should be protected against short-circuits before disposal by masking off the battery terminals.

More information about disposing of and recycling lithium (rechargeable) batteries can be found HERE. https://www.elektro-ade.at/en/batteries/