EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility), WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), and the Battery Act collectively form a framework for product lifecycle management.
WEEE focuses on the recycling of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment, while the Battery Act specifically addresses the management and recycling of batteries (including integrated batteries). EPR, however, is a broader concept of extended producer responsibility, covering aspects such as packaging, electronics, batteries, and more. Its aim is to promote environmental protection and sustainable development by holding producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products.
EPR serves as a overarching policy framework, whereas WEEE and the Battery Act are its concrete legal manifestations in Germany. The German Battery Act was upgraded to BattG2 in 2021. In Germany, the regulatory authority for both WEEE and the Battery Act is the German EAR agency, which also oversees compliance with these regulations.