Recycling and disposal

At Unite, protecting the environment matters to us. We design our processes with sustainability in mind and act responsibly in the market. If you’d like to learn more about Unite’s sustainability initiatives, visit our page here: https://unite.eu/en-global/company/sustainability

Below is a summary of the key requirements we follow for recycling and disposal.

Electrical and electronic equipment

The German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) aims to reduce waste from electrical and electronic devices and ensure that the valuable materials they contain are recovered through recycling. The act also aims to prevent environmental damage and health risks from improper disposal.

Old electrical and electronic devices must not be disposed of with household waste. Instead, they must be taken to an approved collection or take-back point. As a distributor, Unite is legally obliged to take back old devices free of charge.

In addition to items like monitors, televisions and heating elements, ElektroG also covers lamps, lighting equipment, toner cartridges and printer cartridges.

FAQ: electrical appliances

How do I identify equipment that must not go in household waste?

Look for the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol. It appears on the device itself, or if not, on the packaging, user instructions, or warranty certificate.

How do I use Unite’s free take-back options?

Our partner take-e-way handles take-back. Find local collection points here.

When you buy a new electrical or electronic device from Unite, you can return an equivalent old device free of charge. The old device should be similar in type and quantity to those typically arising in private households.

Please bring your Unite invoice for the new device when you return the old one. You can also take back an old device even if you’re not buying a new one, provided the old device does not exceed 25 cm in any dimension.

What should I do before disposal?

Delete any personal data from the device.

Remove lamps, batteries and accumulators if they can be taken out without damaging the device and are not built-in.

For details on battery and accumulator disposal, see the section below.

Batteries and accumulators

Batteries and accumulators contain valuable materials (e.g. lithium, nickel, manganese) and harmful substances. They must not be disposed of with household waste. The crossed-out wheeled bin symbol indicates separate collection is required.

When disposing of used batteries, a distinction is made between portable batteries, automotive batteries and industrial batteries. Portable batteries are sealed and hand-held. Industrial batteries are intended exclusively for industrial, commercial or agricultural use, for electric vehicles of all kinds, or to power hybrid vehicles. Automotive batteries are intended for starting, lighting or ignition of vehicles.

Cadmium and lead in portable batteries

Batteries containing cadmium or lead may only be sold under certain conditions.

Cadmium

General limit: portable batteries may contain no more than 0.002% by weight of cadmium (expressed as metallic cadmium).
Exception: until 18 August 2025, this limit does not apply to portable batteries intended for use in cordless power tools, emergency and alarm systems (including emergency lighting), and medical devices.

Lead

General limit: portable batteries may contain no more than 0.01% by weight of lead (expressed as metallic lead).
Exception: until 18 August 2028, this limit does not apply to zinc‑air button cells.

FAQ: Batteries & accumulators

How do I dispose of used portable batteries?

End users can return used portable batteries free of charge at municipal collection points or voluntary take-back points.

Free returns are also available in shops that sell batteries and accumulators. Returns are limited to typical end-user quantities.

Unite can support you with environmentally sound disposal of used portable batteries.

How do I dispose of industrial and automotive batteries?

If you’re an end user looking to dispose of industrial or automotive batteries, contact us on +49 (0) 89 12 140 777 or by email at service.de@unite.eu.

We’ll arrange environmentally sound disposal in cooperation with the manufacturers.

Packaging

As a procurement platform, we take our packaging responsibilities seriously. However, we are not subject to the system participation and registration requirements of the Packaging Act (VerpackG). The VerpackG aims to prevent or reduce the environmental impact of packaging waste. It applies to all packaging filled with goods that arises at the end consumer.

We verify that our suppliers meet their own system participation and registration obligations. In addition to annual independent reviews of supplier information, confirmation of sales‑packaging licensing is a core part of Unite’s agreements with suppliers.