An electrical appliance turned in to the take-back point becomes waste only after it is handed over to a person authorized for recovery or disposal of the same, i.e. to a specialized recycling company.
As defined in the law, household electrical equipment eligible for the take-back is an electrical appliance in such condition that pertains to an end-of-life product, without indication of any reasons. It can be also positively determined that a product that has gone through any stage of ‘treatment’ or of partial recovery, i.e. processes intended by the law to be performed only by duly authorized persons, is not household electrical equipment eligible for the take-back. Such electrical appliance must be considered waste and therefore the benefit of the take-back scheme cannot be used.
Thus, incomplete appliances are considered waste, with their recycling and disposal costs being borne by local authorities. These costs are then passed on to households in waste fees.