Environment, Disposal & Recycling
Environment and Resources
As a retailer with three large stores and a growing mail-order business, we cause energy consumption, packaging and transport. Here we state specifically what we do about it – without grand statements.
The building newly erected in 2012 in Walldorf, with 3,000 m² of sales area and office space across six floors, was fitted with efficient climate-control technology and a 51 kWp solar system that covers part of the daily energy demand. Our central warehouse, opened in 2026, is also equipped with solar panels that generate part of the on-site electricity requirement.
Bags – disposable item or accessory?
To avoid waste, we have removed our plastic shopping bags from sale. Even for bags sold as 'biodegradable', correct disposal is not guaranteed and their reusability is limited.
In recent years it has also become clear that our customers increasingly don't want a bag because they already have a bag or a rucksack with them – that's practical and suits you perfectly, keep it up!
Disposal and recycling of packaging waste
So that musical instruments survive the entire supply chain from the manufacturer to your hands undamaged, they are often elaborately packaged. This generates a lot of cardboard and plastic padding. We separate and collect these materials and hand them over to our disposal partner interseroh. We're happy to keep any packaging and components you don't need here straight away. By calling 0800 1010855 (toll-free), interseroh can also tell you about local drop-off points. Alternatively, you can simply put packaging made of plastic and paper in the paper recycling or in the yellow recycling bin.
Disposal of batteries
Batteries must never be thrown into household waste. They contain toxic substances that can cause damage during waste processing. As an end consumer you are therefore obliged to return used batteries. This allows hazardous substances to be reprocessed where possible. Batteries or accumulators that contain hazardous substances are marked with the symbol of a crossed-out wheeled bin. The chemical designation of the hazardous substance is also indicated: Cd stands for cadmium, Pb for lead and Hg for mercury.
You can return batteries free of charge after use at the point of sale or at municipal collection points. You can even simply send them back to us:
session GmbH & Co. KG
Central warehouse/Returns: Waste batteries
Wiesenstraße 3
69190 Walldorf
Disposal of end-of-life equipment
We're happy to help you try to breathe new life into an ageing electronic instrument. Sometimes, however, such a device has simply reached the end of its life. As much as it pains us to dispose of old instruments or equipment, we are happy to ensure that they are at least processed so that their usable raw materials are recycled – and so may be reborn. For example: as a mixer. Or as a telephone.
We are a member of the take-e-back return system. You can find more information at www.take-e-back.de.
You can find further information at the end of this page.
Electrical and electronic equipment – information for private households
The Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) contains a range of requirements on the handling of electrical and electronic equipment. The most important points are summarised here.
1. Separate collection of end-of-life equipment
Electrical and electronic equipment that has become waste is referred to as end-of-life equipment. Owners of such equipment must ensure it is collected separately from unsorted municipal waste. End-of-life equipment should in particular not be put in household waste but in special collection and return systems.
2. Batteries and accumulators as well as lamps
Owners of end-of-life equipment must, as a rule, separate used batteries and accumulators that are not enclosed by the equipment, as well as lamps that can be removed from the equipment without destruction, from the end-of-life equipment before handing it in at a collection point. This does not apply where end-of-life equipment is prepared for reuse with the participation of a public waste management body.
3. Options for returning end-of-life equipment
Owners of end-of-life equipment from private households can hand them in free of charge at the collection points of public waste management authorities or at return points set up by manufacturers or distributors within the meaning of the ElektroG. If you ordered online or in our stores, you can either hand it in to us, request a take-back by emailing service@session.de or find a drop-off point near you here: www.take-e-back.de
The option of free return of an end-of-life device by distributors obliged to take back exists, among other situations, when a new similar device that essentially fulfils the same functions is handed over to an end user.
You have the option to return free of charge an end-of-life device that is of a similar type or has a similar function to a newly purchased device in exchange. That means, for example, if you buy a compact stereo system, you can return or have collected an old compact stereo system.
This applies to devices in categories 1, 2 or 4 pursuant to § 2 (1) ElektroG, namely "heat transfer equipment", "display equipment" or "large appliances" (the latter with at least one external dimension over 50 centimetres).
There is also the option of free return at distributors' collection points regardless of the purchase of a new device for end-of-life equipment that is not larger than 25 centimetres in any external dimension, limited to three devices per device category.
4. Data protection note
End-of-life equipment often contains sensitive personal data. This applies in particular to information and communication technology devices such as computers and smartphones. For your own protection, please note that every end user is responsible for deleting the data on devices to be disposed of.
5. Meaning of the "crossed-out wheeled bin" symbol
The symbol of a crossed-out wheeled bin commonly shown on electrical and electronic equipment indicates that the device must be collected separately from unsorted municipal waste at the end of its life.
6. Note on waste prevention
According to the provisions of Directive 2008/98/EC on waste and its implementation in the legislation of EU Member States, measures to prevent waste generally take precedence over waste management measures. For electrical and electronic equipment, waste prevention measures in particular include extending their service life by repairing defective devices and selling functional used devices instead of sending them for disposal. Further information is contained in the Federal waste prevention programme with the participation of the federal states.