New rules for homeowners will come into force from 2025. These concern, among other things, electricity, biocidal products, electricity tariffs, waste and batteries.
With the turn of the year, a lot changes in the areas of heating, electricity, waste and biocides. A brief overview of some important innovations.
The sales rules for biocidal products such as insect sprays, mouse bait and wood preservatives are being tightened. Private individuals must now be advised before purchasing. The obligation to provide advice applies both in retail stores and online.
During the consultation, consumers should be informed about how to use the products and their risks. In addition, consumers should also receive information about more environmentally friendly alternatives so that they can then prefer to use them. The aim of the regulation is to prevent improper use and reduce harmful effects on health.
- Read here: These changes in the hardware store await you in 2025
Both disposable e-cigarettes and other electrical devices should be easier to dispose of in the future. This means that you can, for example, return used disposable e-cigarettes to the kiosk, gas station or store where you bought them.
The background is that e-cigarettes, like many electronic devices, contain batteries. They are highly flammable or can explode, causing a serious garbage fire.
In addition, the collection points for electrical appliances should be marked uniformly so that consumers can see and recognize them straight away in the store. Attention: The Federal Council still has to discuss the change to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG).
- Read here: Electronic waste: will it also be delivered to kiosks in the future?
In May 2025, the so-called minor amendment to the Organic Waste Ordinance (BioAbfV) will come into force. It states that only a maximum of one percent of foreign substances – such as plastic – may be contained in organic waste. This means that organic waste bins will be more closely monitored in the future and incorrect littering will be increasingly criticized. The bins could then be left unemptied until their owners have sorted their contents correctly.
You can find out here what fines can be imposed in the event of a violation.
The background to the amendment is that plastic (plastic bags, plastic pots) often ends up in organic waste. It is difficult to sort out in compass farms and then contaminates the humus obtained with (micro) plastic.
- Read here: This will change when it comes to waste in 2025
The EU plans to recycle more old textiles. All old clothes should now be disposed of in the old clothes container – regardless of whether they have holes or are worn out. In the future, clothing damaged in this way will increasingly be converted into cleaning rags and insulating material until the technology is developed to the point where new clothing can be made from mixed fabrics.
The new Battery Law Implementation Act (BattDG) will come into force in August 2025. It provides for adjustments to the labeling, collection and recycling of used batteries. From then on, consumers should, for example, have the opportunity to dispose of used batteries from e-bikes and e-scooters as well as all used device batteries at the municipal recycling center.
In the following year, i.e. 2026, the rechargeable batteries and batteries mentioned will then be provided with a QR code. When scanned, consumers receive information about lifespan, load capacity, shelf life, safety risks, dangerous ingredients and chemical composition.
All manufacturers must use standardized connections for their small electrical appliances. This means that new devices such as smartphones, tablets, e-readers, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, portable speakers, keyboards and mice can be charged and connected with the same cable – a cable with a USB-C connector.
All electricity suppliers must offer their customers dynamic electricity tariffs. However, in order to use them, the installation of an intelligent electricity meter (smart meter) is necessary. Read more about the changes to electricity in 2025 here.
In addition, distribution network operators must offer time-variable network fees from April 1st. This means that the network fees are adjusted depending on the network load and electricity generation. Similar to dynamic electricity tariffs.
The installation of intelligent electricity meters is mandatory for private households with an annual electricity consumption of over 6,000 kilowatt hours (kWh). Owners of a photovoltaic system with an installed output of over 7 kilowatts now also need a smart meter. The same applies to controllable consumption devices (heat pumps, wall boxes for electric cars). The installation of the intelligent electricity meters is carried out step by step by the metering point operators.
According to the law on the digitalization of the energy transition, smart meters should be installed across the board by 2032.