Acts

The Act (on batteries and accumulators) is based on Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators. Its aim is to reduce the negative impact on the environment by reducing the amount of hazardous substances. This involves proper collection and recycling of waste generated from them. The end user is legally obliged to return or properly dispose of used old batteries (rechargeable and disposable batteries). This is suggested by the sign on the packaging showing a crossed-out garbage can, which means that batteries must not be thrown into household waste due to the harmful substances they contain. For this purpose, you must return used, old batteries free of charge to public collection points in your municipality or in shops. Separate collection by type is intended to facilitate their processing and recycling.

The Act (on waste electrical and electronic equipment) implements into the Polish legal system the provisions of Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (Official Journal EU L 197 of July 24, 2012, p. 38, as amended). The Act defines measures to protect the environment and health by preventing the adverse effects of waste equipment. Light bulbs and energy-saving fluorescent lamps, due to the content of mercury harmful to health and the environment, are classified as hazardous waste, so they must be segregated separately so that they can be properly neutralized or processed. This type of waste is accepted free of charge by Communal Hazardous Waste Collection Points (information about the points can be found on the websites of commune offices). In addition, generally available containers for hazardous waste can be found more and more often in large-format stores. All these raw materials are recyclable.

In a situation where a fluorescent lamp or an energy-saving bulb is destroyed or damaged - e.g. broken. First of all, ventilate the apartment, do not use a vacuum cleaner so that toxic fumes do not get into the air. Damaged glass should be carefully collected and placed in several layers of plastic bag. It is worth using additional hand protection in the form of latex gloves. Wipe the site with disposable wet paper towels to remove glass and phosphor residue. All elements that may have come into contact with metal should also be removed and disposed of in special containers for hazardous waste or handed over to a designated point.

The crossed-out dustbin symbol is placed on products intended for recycling. This means that the product should not be thrown into the garbage with other waste.