Batteries are not allowed in the normal trash. The end consumer is obligated to return the used batteries for recycling. Batteries with toxic substance are specially marked. The chemical symbols Cd, Hg and Pb stand for cadmium, mercury and lead. These symbols are usually found on the marked batteries beneath the graphic of a crossed-through trash can. The toxic substances are heavy metals with which we really shouldn't pollute our environment.

Every year about a billion batteries are sold in Germany (30.000 tons) which should make us aware of the environmental problems. After BattV (a German disposal regulation for batteries) the producers and sellers of batteries are liable for collecting used batteries through retail and recycling them. You should have seen the green GRS-bins in Germany that are placed in many computer and electronic stores.

In addition to the collection bins in the stores, the citywide garbage collection and other public waste disposal is commited to collecting used batteries at organized collection sites free of charge. The process is supported by the union of multiple battery producers. They call themselves the Stiftung Gemeinsames Rücknahmesystem Batterien (GRS) . The batteries are collected by the stores and publics services and then sorted and recycled.

Dr. Zellmer GmbH will dispose of used batteries and rechargeable batteries by environmental standards, if they are sent to us or brought to our retail office (Dr. Zellmer GmbH, Im Erlengrund 29, D-53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany). We only have to take back batteries which we sell or have in stock as well as normal quantities used.

Dr. Zellmer GmbH exclusively carries batteries and rechargeables, for which the producer or importer has signed a contract with GRS or VFW in Cologne. The used batteries can therefore be put in the specially marked collecting bins of public services in Germany or of course the green GRS-bins.

ATTENTION FIRE DANGER: When sending back multiple lithium batteries please make sure the contact faces (+ and -) of the batteries are separately taped.

Published: 04/10/2006, 12:31 h

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© Dr. Zellmer GmbH, 2002-2005. Texte und Grafiken dieser Seite sind urheberrechtlich geschützt. Autor: Dr. Rolf Zellmer