The French consumer body CLCV says half of major online electrical retailers are failing to take back used goods for free when customers buy a similar product, as required under French law.
The survey of 22 major suppliers found that almost a third don’t offer free take-back, while others charge additional fees for delivery when take-back is required. Almost a fifth of sites are also failing to display recycling fees, the so-called ‘eco contribution’, when they list prices online.
CLCV warns that the impact of the failings is higher municipal taxes as local authorities pick up the bill for handling old electrical goods as well as the risk of ‘less scrupulous’ people dumping goods illegally.