{"id":3270,"date":"2026-03-12T13:27:40","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T13:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gfu.de\/?p=3270"},"modified":"2026-06-28T14:38:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T14:38:57","slug":"repair-refurbishment-and-recycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gfu.de\/en\/repair-refurbishment-and-recycling\/","title":{"rendered":"Repair, Refurbishment and Recycling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A roundtable discussion (recorded in written form) with:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Alexander Goldberg<\/strong> \u2022 stiftung ear<\/p>\n

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Dr. Lennart Osthoff<\/strong> \u2022 Repartly<\/p>\n

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Carine Chardon<\/strong> \u2022 GFU<\/p>\n

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GFU: Mr. Goldberg, the foundation you lead coordinates the collection and placement of transport containers for waste electrical equipment at the recycling centers of cities and municipalities. Do we have an e-waste problem in Germany and, if so, what is the solution?<\/h2>\n

Alexander Goldberg:<\/strong>
\nI would not say that Germany has an e-waste problem. Waste electrical and electronic equipment is the fastest-growing waste stream worldwide. Old electrical devices are classified as hazardous waste and must be collected separately. In Germany, citizens can return their old devices to municipalities and retailers free of charge. Nevertheless, many devices are still not disposed of, or not disposed of properly, which means we lose important resources. For example, many old electrical devices are kept at home, such as smartphones in drawers; small devices are disposed of in household waste or handed over to mobile collectors at the front door. As a result, the raw materials contained in the old devices cannot be recycled and are therefore not available to the circular economy, for example in the production of new devices.<\/p>\n

stiftung ear was entrusted by the German Environment Agency in 2005 with sovereign enforcement tasks under the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) and, in 2021, under battery law. Registering manufacturers is one of stiftung ear\u2019s key tasks. In the area of the ElektroG, stiftung ear also coordinates the collection, proper treatment and disposal of all waste electrical equipment collected by municipalities by the manufacturers obligated in each case and their disposal service providers. When collecting the old devices, the manufacturers\u2019 service providers also make empty collection containers available to the municipalities again. A major advantage of this collection coordination by stiftung ear is that all old devices collected by municipalities are always picked up, so nothing is left behind.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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GFU: Mr. Osthoff, with the company you founded, you have made it your mission to ensure that defective electrical devices are repaired more often. What are the biggest levers for a better repair culture, and how does repair become a business case?<\/h2>\n

Dr. Lennart Osthoff:<\/strong>
\nToo time-consuming, too few skilled workers in service workshops, and spare parts that are too expensive: these are the reasons why household appliances with defective electronics have not been repaired up to now. At Repartly, we are pursuing an approach that eliminates precisely these problems. Our automated repair line, with collaborative robots trained by us, enables fast, cost-effective repairs. At the same time, with our refurbished electronics, we are bringing professional refurbishment to the industry for the first time and thus offering an attractively priced alternative to original spare parts. Repairing has to pay off for it to become the standard \u2013 that is the decisive lever. <\/p>\n

Carine Chardon:<\/strong>
\nA major challenge also remains consumers\u2019 knowledge of whether and how, or by whom, electrical devices can be repaired in the event of a defect, and when it is actually still worthwhile. It therefore makes sense to ensure more active information and greater transparency. This applies not only to the topic of repair, but also to the proper disposal of old devices. We see that e-waste alone is not the problem, but rather how it is handled. It is important to me not to discuss the topic of repair in isolation; in the end, everything is interconnected. With proper disposal, the waste and recycling industry is able to recover valuable raw materials and return them to the cycle. This too is a building block of sustainability in the consumer society. Awareness of each individual\u2019s contribution to this in the consumer society is increasing, but not yet to a sufficient extent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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GFU: Mr. Osthoff, how would you describe Repartly\u2019s relationship with specialist retailers and manufacturers: are you more of a cooperation partner for industry and retail, or are you competitors after all?<\/h2>\n

Dr. Lennart Osthoff:<\/strong>
\nNeither specialist retailers nor manufacturers are prepared for the circular economy. As a pioneer of scalable, sustainable repair solutions, Repartly can be the game changer for retail and industry. I am convinced that the circular economy only works if all market participants benefit from it. That is exactly what our business model is geared toward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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GFU: Are repairs always the better \u2013 and more sustainable \u2013 option, Ms. Chardon?<\/h2>\n

Carine Chardon:<\/strong>
\nA more nuanced view is useful here. In principle, of course, electrical devices should be used for as long as possible and not disposed of if they are still functional or repairable. At the same time, it may be that a repair is not always worthwhile for those affected from an economic and\/or ecological perspective: if, for example, the cost of the repair exceeds the value of the device, or a newer model offers significant advantages, purchasing a new one is an understandable alternative. A newer device may, for instance, be more efficient in terms of electricity or water consumption, or simply offer additional benefits through services. Disposing of the defective device is not inherently bad from a sustainability perspective \u2013 always provided that proper disposal also enables the recovery of resources and their return to the economic cycle. It is about weighing the given factors and taking a holistic view. The worst decision is to \u201choard\u201d defective devices or dispose of them incorrectly \u2013 for example in residual waste or by putting them out on the street. Unfortunately, this still happens frequently, especially in large cities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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GFU: What exactly happens to the devices that are returned via recycling centers and municipal collection points?<\/h2>\n

Alexander Goldberg:<\/strong>
\nThe collected waste electrical equipment is sorted in a certified initial treatment facility and freed of hazardous and interfering substances, such as batteries, capacitors and printer cartridges. The old devices and components are also checked for possible preparation for reuse. The device fractions are then mechanically shredded to enable the subsequent sorting and separation processes. Various separation processes are then used to separate individual material fractions, such as ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and plastics, which are available, among other things, as secondary raw materials for the production of new electrical devices.<\/p>\n

As part of its consumer education campaign Plan E, stiftung ear also informs citizens about recycling, for example through short films.[1]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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GFU: What role does the refurbishment of old devices play in your business model? When is a repair (still) ecologically sensible?<\/h2>\n

Dr. Lennart Osthoff:<\/strong>
\nWith our refurbished electronics for a wide range of different brands, Repartly already has a broad refurbishment offering in the spare parts market today. Bringing refurbished complete devices back into the cycle is the logical next step, and one we are of course addressing. With our lean, cost-effective repair approach, repairing or refurbishing a household appliance almost always makes sense, including from an ecological perspective. The only exception may be extremely outdated devices with a very poor energy efficiency class. That then has to be weighed up on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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GFU: Doesn\u2019t the circular economy lose important raw materials if devices remain in circulation beyond their primary life cycle through refurbishment?<\/h2>\n

Alexander Goldberg:<\/strong>
\nIt is true that potential raw materials in an old device are missing from the circular economy if it is not properly disposed of and recycled as waste. In the case of used devices that are not yet waste, it must regularly be weighed up whether their refurbishment is still worthwhile or not. Ultimately, this is a question of proportionality, particularly with regard to costs, the CO2 footprint and personal attitude. People will also spend money on used devices that can still be professionally refurbished if, for example, they have a particular affinity for a device or such devices are no longer manufactured. In addition, the CO2 balance of refurbishing certain devices can be better than that of manufacturing a corresponding new device. On the other hand, however, new devices can, for example, also operate significantly more efficiently and consume less electricity, which can make a new purchase sensible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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GFU: How can recycling be efficiently integrated into the repair and refurbishment chain, and where do the challenges lie for consumers and companies?<\/h2>\n

Dr. Lennart Osthoff:<\/strong>
\nAt Repartly, we not only integrate manufacturers and retailers into our business model, but also work closely with recycling partners. For example, we have developed an app that, based on current market data, indicates with a simple scan of the device number which spare parts from this model are suitable for refurbishment and where they are located. Our partners remove these parts and sell them to Repartly. Instead of ending up in the scrap press, they then return to the cycle as refurbished spare parts. Incidentally, we know from our own market studies that consumers are extremely open to the topic of refurbishment for household appliances \u2013 especially when specialist retailers are involved as trusted partners. So why shouldn\u2019t what has long been established in the used car market or with mobile phones also work for white goods?<\/p>\n

Alexander Goldberg:<\/strong>
\nRecycling of devices always comes into play when a device has become an old device, i.e. waste. The challenge for citizens is to recognize and assess when a repair or refurbishment is still worthwhile and when it is not.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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GFU: Mr. Goldberg, how do you view the collection quotas for old devices \u2013 is this a useful instrument from your perspective?<\/h2>\n

Alexander Goldberg:<\/strong>
\nThe collection quota requirements of Directive 2012\/19\/EU are unrealistic and unsuitable for practice. Today, the EU stipulates that 65% of the electrical devices placed on the market on average over the last three years must be collected as old devices. Surprisingly, the EU has not established uniform procedures for measuring the quantities placed on the market and collected, or for calculating the quota. Rather, Member States can act relatively freely here and, for example, estimate quantities placed on the market as well as collected quantities, interpret the scope more narrowly and exempt more products, apply product weights differently, fail to pursue free riders, etc. The three-year period is also unsuitable for properly and sufficiently taking into account the masses of long-lived products, such as refrigerators and PV modules. All these aspects influence the relevant quantities and ultimately the collection quota. In practice, it becomes clear that the collection quantities and quotas are therefore neither comparable, nor do they allow serious statements about how efficiently the circular economy actually functions in a Member State. Nevertheless, this unsuitable collection quota is repeatedly invoked to promote the introduction of collective collection systems in Germany, without explaining where and how exactly the cited additional quantities of up to 1.2 million tonnes per year could actually be collected. In addition, the collection quota and its calculation are too complicated to be used sensibly in consumer education. A target in kilograms per inhabitant would be much more suitable here again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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GFU: How can awareness be created among the population, or willingness increased, to actively dispose of old devices?<\/h2>\n

Alexander Goldberg:<\/strong>
\nThis is where stiftung ear has been focusing since the end of 2019 with its awareness campaign Plan E, informing citizens in an entertaining and appealing way about the simple options for properly disposing of their old devices. The campaign reaches people and positively changes their attitudes and disposal behavior. Consumer education is an important and ongoing task that is necessary in order to recover raw materials for the circular economy. Details can be found here on the Plan E campaign website.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Carine Chardon:<\/strong>
\nEducation is the key, which is why the stiftung ear campaign is so important \u2013 and set up exactly right. I would like to see it rolled out and noticed much more widely. Sometimes concise little facts are enough to stick in people\u2019s minds. Here is a fun fact: the iron recovered from refrigerators, for example, can be used to manufacture railway tracks; insulating gases from refrigerants are used to produce roof insulation, or plastics for toy manufacturing!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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GFU: Finally: What impact will the EU directive promoting the repair of goods, which will shortly be transposed into German law, have in practice?<\/h2>\n

Dr. Lennart Osthoff:<\/strong>
\nWhen German consumers realize what entitlement to repairs they have, demand will increase massively. With our repair solution and our refurbished spare parts, we offer specialist retailers the opportunity not to experience the new legislation as a threat, but to recognize it as a business opportunity. After all, those who can offer their customers attractive repairs increase satisfaction and strengthen customer loyalty in the long term. <\/p>\n

Carine Chardon:<\/strong>
\nIn my view, the text of the directive itself will have little immediate impact. Consumers have always had the option of having devices repaired; in this respect, the term \u201cright to repair\u201d is misleading. However, for good reasons, people have only rarely made use of this option, for example because the repair took too long, was too expensive, or because they simply felt like getting a new device. At the same time, we see that the directive has given the whole topic a great deal of public visibility over the past two years and \u2013 at least in professional circles \u2013 has prompted many discussions and thus more attention. As a result, business models focusing on the repair economy and refurbishment have recently been emerging more strongly; Repartly is a good example of this. German specialist retail cooperations have also recently announced joint efforts to promote more repairs. Thus, EU policy has indirectly made an important contribution to strengthening the repair culture. Still open is the \u201cnational measure\u201d required by the directive to strengthen the repair culture: here we see a clear mandate for the federal government to support those economic actors who de facto, and by deploying economic resources and taking business risks, contribute to ensuring that repairs are carried out \u2013 industry, retail and others, such as insurers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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[1] https:\/\/e-schrott-entsorgen.org\/recyclingprozess.html<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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