From discarded phones to first-generation gaming consoles – many basements are filled with devices containing valuable raw materials. Returning and reusing them is now becoming easier – a win for the environment and the circular economy.

By Jan Nintemann and Jochen Siegle; Photo: Eirik Solheim via Unsplash

Tech enthusiasts, be honest: How many electronic gadgets have been gathering dust in your basement or drawers for years? The old 1-megapixel digital camera, the first iPhone, or the kids’ discarded game console – we hoard our e-waste. And this is increasingly becoming a problem amidst dwindling resources and rising environmental impact.

But now, things are changing: The German Bundestag has passed a new law designed to significantly simplify the return of old electrical appliances and e-cigarettes.

Old Tech, Big Impact: Standardized Return Points for Electrical Appliances

In the future, retailers will be required to uniformly label return points for old devices such as mobile phones, razors, or flashlights. The aim is for consumers to immediately recognize where they can drop off their old devices free of charge.

Many devices contain valuable raw materials such as copper, gold, or rare earths – materials whose extraction is often environmentally harmful and energy-intensive.

New Rules for E-Cigarettes

In the future, electronic cigarettes are also to be returned without restriction and free of charge at all points of sale – even if no new product is purchased. This applies not only to disposable e-cigarettes but also to reusable devices and electronic tobacco heaters.
Europe Thinks Ahead: Reuse and Resource Efficiency as a Mandatory Program

Germany is not alone with this initiative. The circular economy is also being systematically strengthened at the European level:

• The EU WEEE Directive obliges all member states to collect, reuse, and recycle electrical and electronic equipment.
• The RoHS Directive restricts hazardous substances in devices – enabling them to be manufactured more environmentally friendly and recycled more easily.
• The new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), part of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, goes even further: products are to be more repairable, durable, and reusable in the future.

These measures are interconnected – they form the basis for a Europe that no longer simply consumes resources but keeps them in a cycle.

TransformIT Europe 2026: Reuse Becomes a Digital Mindset

Especially in the IT and electronics industry, millions of tons of e-waste are generated every year – from servers and smartphones to smart home gadgets.

TransformIT Europe demonstrates how digital innovation and sustainability can go hand-in-hand: through durable devices, open repair standards, second-life technologies, and a consistent circular economy for hardware and data infrastructure.

The new legal framework – both national and European – sends a strong signal in precisely this direction: technology, reuse, and sustainability belong together.

Sources & Links

• EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive – EUR Lex
• EU Circular Economy Action Plan – European Commission
• Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) – European Commission, 2024
• https://www.tuvsud.com/de-de/store/akademie/seminare-nachhaltigkeit/kreislaufwirtschaft/1126004
• https://deutsche-recycling.com/blog/overview-of-electronic-waste-disposal-in-europe/
• RoHS Directive – EU Environment Portal