Categories
Each electrical and electronic equipment that falls within the scope can be allocated to one of the 6 categories shown below. The categories are relevant for the recycling rates that are to be reached (§ 22 paragraph 1 ). They interrelate to each other according to a specialty ratio, meaning you may have to consider all categories when allocating your electrical and electronic equipment.
Category 1: Temperature exchange equipment
Temperature exchange equipment (of every size) is electrical and electronic equipment with integrated circuits which use other substances than water – e.g. gases, oils, cooling and freezing agents or secondary materials – for cooling/heating or dehumidification.
Category 2: Screens, monitors and equipment containing screens having a surface greater than 100 cm²
Screens and monitors (of any size) are electrical and electronic equipment to show images and information on an electronic screen, regardless of the size of the screen.
Included in this category are also equipment that contain a screen with a surface of more than 100 cm². This is only such electrical and electronic equipment the main purpose of which is to show images and information on their screen.
Category 3: Lamps
Lamps (of any size) are equipment to create light (§ 3 number 14 ElektroG). This contains lamps* (illuminants) as exchangeable electrical and electronic equipment that is mainly intended for use in luminaires. Lamps generally are made up of ceramic, metal and glass or plastic and have a normed base according to CEI/IEC/DIN 60061-1 (e.g. with screw thread, two metal pins, two metal caps or bayonet) to enable exchanging the lamp without tools.
*Lamps are also lamps with additional functions, e.g. lamps that have a loudspeaker, a camera, a perfume dispenser or insect repellant.
Category 4: Equipment with any external dimension more than 50 centimetres (Large equipment)
Electrical and electronic equipment at least one outer dimension of which is more than 50 cm but is not yet contained in category 1 – 3, as these categories are each more specific.
Category 5: Equipment with no external dimension more than 50 centimetres (Small equipment)
Electrical and electronic equipment the largest outer measurement of which is less than or exactly 50 cm, but that is not already covered by categories 1-4 or 6, as these categories are each more specific.
Category 6: Small IT and telecommunication equipment with no external dimension more than 50 centimetres
Electrical and electronic equipment that is intended to be used to collect, transmit, process, store and show information (IT equipment) and electrical and electronic equipment to electronically transmit signals – language, video and data – across spacial distances (Telecommunication equipment) the largest outer measurement of which is less than or exactly 50 cm, but that is not already covered by categories 1-4, as these categories are each more specific.
The following decision tree serves to differentiate the categories. It applies to electrical and electronic equipment that is in scope of the law:
