The year 2020 is about to pass, and this year will surely become a year that cannot be unrecorded in human history.

 

As Europe is about to enter the Christmas holiday, we will no longer provide WEEE/EAR registration for 2020, BattG,VerpakG services for customers, and all orders before the end of December will provide 2021 service content by default.

 

So we bring you the latest legal and regulatory updates for 2021.

 

2021 Market factors trigger changes in packaging prices

 

Will your bill change?

 

1. Lightweight packaging (LVP, i.e. plastic, composite, aluminum and non-ferrous metals)

 

(1) The Packaging Act clearly provides for a higher recovery rate. Investment in classification processing capacity has increased significantly, placing higher requirements on deeper classification processing.

(2) The amount of recyclables in personal mobile phones is increasing, and the cost of recycling has increased significantly. However, the number of LVP certifications has not increased.

(3) Public waste management authorities have placed higher demands on the existing collection infrastructure, which has greatly affected the costs of the major recycling agencies in Germany. For example, the new specification indicates the specification for the conversion of collection containers, such as the replacement of yellow bags with yellow trash cans, and the shortening of collection cycles.

(4) The cost of recycling sorted waste and mixed plastics is expected to increase. The amount of revenue that can be recovered from recyclables has fallen sharply.

 

2. Paper/cardboard/cardboard

(PPC)

 

(1) The German Packaging Act (VerpackG) has more stringent requirements for the cost structure of paper/cardboard/cardboard (PPC).

(2) In the past, the public waste management Authority calculated the packaging cost of domestic waste paper collection by weight. Now, the authorities have decided to determine the cost based on the increased packaging volume in batches, and the packaging method recovery agency bears more of the recovery cost.

(3) In addition to the increase in collection costs, the statutory recycling quota will increase from 70% to 85% from 2020, with higher recycling volumes resulting in higher sorting costs.

PPC's recycling revenue has collapsed in the raw materials market and is not expected to grow significantly in 2021.

 

GTS has agreements with our global service network to obtain wholesale prices below the market, and we ensure satisfactory service for each of our partners.

 

The new German Battery law will be implemented on January 1, 2021

 

Will your battery products go to the European market?

 

You need to pay close attention to the impact of the new battery law on your business in Germany!

 

From 2021, the registration of BattG, the German battery law, will no longer be handled directly by the German Federal Environmental Protection Agency, but will be transferred to the current WEEE registration department - EAR.   To avoid any legal risk during the one-year transition period under the Battery Act, GTS reminds you to register immediately to comply with your registration obligations under the Battery Act. By registering, you reduce the risk of being sanctioned or fined by the German government.

 

A. Customers who have registered the old battery law

 

The new Battery Law gives you a one-year transition period, allowing you to complete your registration with the new Battery Law in 2021.

Your previously registered company data and information will be reviewed by Stiftung EAR. The new battery law requires re-registration with the Stiftung EAR (the German Registry for Waste Electronics and Appliances).

 

B. For relevant companies that have not yet registered the Battery law

 

For example, the battery manufacturer or the company that first put the battery in Germany

GTS can provide you with registration services related to the German battery law, including various equipment batteries, industrial batteries and automotive batteries.

 

New battery law requires Chinese companies to have authorized representatives under German battery law

 

This is similar to the German electrical law, which requires Chinese companies to have German authorized representatives. Foreign companies that do not have an office in Germany and place batteries on the German market must have an authorized representative in Germany.

 

The authorized representative is responsible for representing the following battery law obligations of the PRC company:

 

1. New battery law related registration

2. Ensure and arrange the fulfillment of recovery obligations

3. Acting for all coordination and communication with government agencies

 

GTS can provide you with the above services to ensure that your products are exported to Europe without worry.

See the EAR website for more background information:

www.stiftung-ear.de/de/themen/battg/vorinformation-battg