stiftung elektro-altgeräte register (stiftung ear) is a foundation under civil law and was originally founded in 2004 by producers and associations of the electrical and electronic sector as a ‘Joint body’ for producers according to ElektroG. Today stiftung ear executes tasks from both ElektroG, as well as BattG: ElektroG Stiftung ear is the ‘Joint body’ for producers oder German Clearing House according to ElektroG. It has been granted sovereign rights resulting from the ElektroG by the German Environment Agency. Stiftung ear ensures a competitive implementation of the ElektroG, by fulfilling different tasks and authorities. Stiftung ear does not discharge operational activities such as take-back and disposal of waste equipment, or logistics, sorting, dismantling and recycling. The producers and authorised representatives are responsible to do so. They bare the economic and factual responsibility for the recovery and disposal of waste equipment. The municipalities collect waste equipment, as they have done reliably for many years, providing the citizens with collection/recycling depots. BattG In the year 2020, the German Environment Agency in addition granted stiftung ear sovereign rights resulting from BattG. Thereby stiftung ear also ensures the competitive implementation of BattG by fulfilling different tasks. Stiftung ear does not discharge operational activities such as take-back of waste batteries, their disposal, or logistics. The producers and authorised agents are responsible to do so. Stiftung ear is operated exclusively to cover costs, explicitly not to gain a profit, and is both economically, as well as personnelly independent. Its activities are financed by fees which are determined by fee regulation ofthe Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
