Electrical waste and batteries

Many of our products contain electronics and batteries, such as massage devices, heating products and red light products. When you no longer want to use such a product, it counts as electrical waste and must be sorted separately from other waste. Here we explain how and why.

Why must electrical waste and batteries be sorted separately?

Electronics and batteries can contain substances that are harmful to the environment and human health if they end up in general waste. They also contain valuable materials such as metals and plastics that can be recycled and used again. Lithium batteries can also cause fires in waste collection vehicles and waste facilities if they are thrown away with household waste.

The crossed-out wheelie bin

The crossed-out wheelie bin symbol on the product, the packaging or in the user manual means that the product or battery must not be thrown away with household waste. It must be taken to a collection point for electrical waste and batteries.

Where do I hand in electrical waste and batteries?

  • Recycling centre: take the product to your local recycling centre and put it in the container for electrical waste.
  • Battery collection boxes: loose batteries can be handed in at battery collection boxes, for example in shops and supermarkets.
  • Shops that sell electronics: many shops take back small electrical products and batteries free of charge.

Collected electrical waste is handled by an approved collection scheme, which makes sure it is recycled and that hazardous substances are treated safely.

How to handle batteries safely

  • Built-in batteries: most of our electrical products have a built-in, rechargeable battery. Do not try to remove it yourself if the product is not designed for it. Hand in the whole product as electrical waste and the recycler will remove the battery.
  • Replaceable batteries: remove the batteries as described in the user manual before handing in the product, and hand in the batteries separately at a battery collection box.
  • Protect against short circuits: tape over the terminals of lithium batteries and button cells before handing them in, so that they cannot short-circuit.
  • Damaged batteries: if a battery is damaged, swollen or gets hot, stop using and charging the product. Take it to a recycling centre as soon as possible and tell them the battery is damaged.
  • Never throw electrical products or batteries away with household waste, and never burn them.

Products with personal data

Our activity tracker can store data such as heart rate and activity. Before handing the tracker in for recycling: delete your data in the companion app, unpair the tracker from the app and reset it to factory settings as described in the user manual.

Questions?

Not sure how to handle a product or a battery? Contact our customer service via the contact page and we will help you.