Extended Producer Responsibility

Producer responsibility applies to approximately 50,000 Finnish manufacturers, importers and packers as well as distance sellers.

 

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Information for the retailer

How does Extended Producer Responsibility relate to the retailer? 

Retailers  of batteries, accumulators, tyres and electrical and electronic equipment are subject to obligations under the Waste Act to accept discarded products, provide information and pass on the products received. This page provides more detailed information on this issue. You will find information on the topics:  

  • The retailer has an obligation to receiver products 
  • The retailer has an obligation to provide information 
  • To whom can the products received be handed over? 
  • Where can consumers hand over their products? 
     

In the context of Extended Producer Responsibility, a retailer  is a distributor who sells their  products at a point of sale or in a shop. 

Pyykinpesukone, hiustenkuivaaja ja läppäri leijuvat keskellä kuvaa.

The retailer has an obligation to receive products  

Retailers of batteries, accumulators, tyres and electrical and electronic equipment must accept discarded products free of charge at their point of sale.  

Retailers are responsible for the costs of receiving the products. The costs incurred after reception, such as transport and handling costs, are borne by Producer Organisations or, in exceptional cases, by producers who are included in the producer register, i.e. importers, manufacturers and packers. 

Acceptance without the obligation to purchase a new product: 

1) Portable batteries and accumulators 

  • Portable batteries include  finger and coin cell batteries and batteries used in mobile phones, laptops, toys, cordless tools, electric toothbrushes and shavers. 
  • Portable batteries do not include, for example, batteries used in electric mobility equipment. They are classified as industrial batteries. 

2) Small (less than 25 cm) household electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) 

  • These devices include energy saving lamps, mobile phones and their chargers, electric toothbrushes, hair dryers, toys and electrical tools. 
  • The acceptance obligation applies to grocery stores with a sales area of more than 1,000 m2 and other stores selling EEE with a sales area of more than 200 m2. 
  • The acceptance facility can be provided in the immediate vicinity of the point of sale. 
  • Sellers must accept EEE also from non-household sources if the quantity and quality of the equipment are comparable to household sources. 

Acceptance with the purchase of a new comparable product: 

1) Large household EEE 

  • Sellers must accept EEE free of charge in conjunction with a purchase of a new comparable product. 
  • The acceptance facility can be provided in the immediate vicinity of the point of sale. 
  • Sellers must accept EEE also from non-household sources if the quantity and quality of the equipment are comparable to household sources. 

2) Vehicle tyres 

  • Sellers must accept old tyres free of charge in conjunction with a purchase of new tyres of equivalent type and quantity. 
  • Free acceptance applies to rimless tyres. 
     

 Voluntary acceptance: 

1) Consumer vehicle batteries (starter batteries) 

  • If a store which sells batteries to consumers accepts used starter batteries, they must be accepted free of charge and without requiring the purchase of a new product. 
     

The retailer has an obligation to provide information  

The retailer must inform customers of the possibility of handing over the discarded product to the retailer for collection. This information may take place at the point of sale, in the shop or through other marketing. The costs of such information shall be borne by the retailer. 

To whom can the products received be handed over? 

The retailer must group the discarded products into appropriate batches for transport. 

The seller must hand over accepted products only to transporters or processors which are in contracted with the producer organisation or producer, i.e. the importer, manufacturer or packer. Handing products over to other parties is prohibited under the Waste Act. Producers are responsible for the waste management of products and the associated costs after the waste product leaves the seller’s premises. 

It is prohibited to transfer the products to anyone other than the aforementioned parties.  

Where can consumers hand over their products? 

Consumers may also hand over discarded batteries, accumulators, electrical and electronic equipment and tyres to recycling to a retailers' points of sale or to other take-back points organised by producers and producer organisations free of charge.  

You can find the nearest collection points for most products at kierratys.info. 

Read more about reception points on our website: 

 

ely-updated 02.05.2024