Europe sets battery recycling targets with new Directive

29 September 2006

Europe has finally published the new Batteries Directive, making companies that produce and sell new batteries responsible for collecting and recycling spent batteries.

The publication in the EU's Official Journal on Tuesday came without a trace of publicity from the European Union, but means the UK now has exactly 24 months to bring in new recycling regulations for batteries.


The UK will have to collect 25% of waste batteries each year by 2012 under the new Directive
The first collection targets set by the Directive, for 25% of batteries, will now have to be achieved by September 26, 2012.

The second target, for 45% of batteries, is set for September 2016.

Figures for 2002 put Britain's collection rate for batteries at just 0.5%. This compared to 59% for Belgium and 55% for Sweden.

The new Directive requires accessible recycling points will have to be set up, with distributors taking spent batteries back for recycling free of charge to the last owner.

A series of "efficiency" targets has also been set for the reprocessing of the materials from collected batteries. These include recycling 65% of lead-acid batteries, 75% of nickel-cadmium batteries and 50% of other batteries collected, all targets calculated by weight.

These efficiencies targets are to be achieved no later than September 26, 2010.

Costs
Any net costs from the collection, treatment and recycling of spent batteries is to be met by producers or organisations on their behalf. The Directive does allow Member States to bring in a threshold to allow small battery producers to escape the recycling obligations.

The Directive also bans producers from using significant quantities of hazardous metals like cadmium and mercury in the manufacture of batteries – except in medical equipment, emergency or alarm systems, and in cordless power drills.

Related links:
EU Battery Directive
Battery recycling information
Commenting on the publication of the Directive, Michael Green, managing director of G&P Batteries in West Bromwich, told letsrecycle.com: "The clock is ticking and there is now a definitive time scale for getting the legislation in place. We're very pleased about that."

He added: "We have seen a change in people's awareness of battery recycling over the last few years and as the UK copes with the requirements we expect that to grow. We anticipate a steady rise in companies and local authorities doing something to increase battery recycling."

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