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Recovery and proper disposal
Electric and electronic equipment must be disposed of correctly, unless it can be repaired. As a partner in the collection and recycling of WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment), UFH supports the return of valuable materials to the raw materials cycle. In addition to our own recycling plant for refrigerators in Kematen/Ybbs, we cooperate with specialist partners who ensure the proper disposal of your WEEE. This includes everything from a small mobile phone to a large commercial refrigeration unit.
We take care of the collection and recycling of large appliances for you – from tumble dryers to e-bikes.
What is classified as a large appliance?
The classification of large appliances is clearly defined:
Under the Austrian WEEE Ordinance (EAG-VO), any electrical or electronic device with a longest external edge of more than 50 cm is classified as a large appliance. For circular devices, the largest diameter (exceeding 50 cm) is used instead.
Typical large appliances include washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, electric cookers (or just their ceramic hobs), larger heating appliances, ironing machines, electronic musical instruments (such as electric guitars and larger keyboards) and e-bikes.
UFH operates its own refrigerator recycling plant in Kematen/Ybbs, where we ensure the environmentally sound and compliant treatment of hazardous refrigerants and blowing agents.
Like all WEEE, end-of-life refrigerator appliances contain valuable secondary raw materials that can be recovered and reintroduced into the circular economy.
What is classified as cooling appliance, refrigerator or freezer?
This category includes conventional refrigerators, freezers, chest freezers, wine fridges, residential air conditioning units, heat pumps, heat pump dryers, ice makers and other heat exchange equipment.
We ensure the proper collection and recycling for a wide range of equipment, from obsolete CRT monitors to laptops. Defective or end-of-life screens and displays are also handled and recycled responsibly.
What is classified as display screen equipment?
According to the Austrian WEEE Ordinance (EAG-VO), equipment is classified in this category if its primary purpose is to function as screen or display and its screen size exceeds 100 cm².
Typical examples include televisions (CRT and flat-screen models), PC monitors, surveillance displays (plasma, LCD and LED), laptops and tablets. Devices that feature a display only as an ancillary function, such as refrigerators with a built-in screen, are not classified in this category.
We take care of the collection and recycling of your small electrical appliances (including small IT and telecommunication equipment), from mobile phones and smartphones to vacuum cleaners.
What is classified as small electrical appliance?
According to Austria’s WEEE Ordinance (EAG-VO), small electrical appliances include all devices whose longest rigid edge measures 50 cm or less. Flexible hoses or telescopic tubes, such as those found on vacuum cleaners, are not considered.
For circular equipment, the largest diameter is used as the basis for classification.
“Small IT and telecommunication equipment” must be declared as a separate category when placed on the market. For collection purposes, however, it is assigned to the small electrical equipment category.
Common examples include mobile phones and smartphones, electric toothbrushes, USB flash drives, vacuum cleaners, cordless drills, radios, gaming consoles and e-vapes.
UFH ensures the compliant collection and recycling for your energy-saving lamps, fluorescent tubes and LED lamps.
While conventional incandescent and halogen lamps may be disposed of as residual waste, gas-discharge lamps and LED lamps are subject to separate collection requirements in Austria.
This category includes energy-saving lamps, fluorescent tubes, LED retrofit lamps, as well as mercury-vapour and sodium-vapour lamps.
UFH ensures the professional collection, treatment and recycling of end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) modules, including installations on residential rooftops, commercial buildings and facades, as well as large-scale solar parks such as ground-mounted, agrivoltaic or floating PV projects.
As with all categories of WEEE, UFH works with specialised recycling partners in the photovoltaic sector who meet our high standards for compliant and environmentally sound treatment.
Do you have questions about the desposal of WEEE?
We are here to help.
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