Recycling batteries and appliances is increasingly encouraged by major retailers in Romania, not only as an environmental responsibility, but also through tangible consumer rewards. According to an overview published by Wall-Street.ro, incentives vary widely across retail chains, ranging from free batteries to sports equipment.
Retailers such as Lidl, Kaufland, and Carrefour currently focus on battery recycling programs. Lidl offers one new battery for every ten recycled, while Kaufland provides a new AA alkaline battery in exchange for eight used batteries or accumulators. Carrefour applies a tiered system, granting either a private-label battery or an Energizer rechargeable unit, depending on the number of batteries returned. None of these retailers currently runs appliance recycling campaigns.
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Mega Image accepts both batteries and appliances, but only at a single store in Bucharest. By contrast, Auchan and Penny report no active recycling initiatives at present.
Cash & carry retailers follow a different approach. Metro provides battery collection containers and accepts small appliances without offering direct incentives. Selgros stands out with a long-term campaign running until June 30, 2026, offering new batteries in exchange for used ones, under clearly defined conditions.
For appliances, Altex and Media Galaxy operate a nationwide “Rabla” program until November 29, 2026, while also accepting batteries for recycling. Dedeman accepts small appliances and provides free one-for-one collection when delivering new products.
Other retailers rely on limited campaigns. Hornbach offers a free Varta battery for every ten recycled units during its current campaign, while IKEA provides battery collection points without rewards. Decathlon links rewards to the weight of recycled batteries, offering various sports products in return.
Photo: freepik.com
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