The decision to reject the ban on NiCd sales comes after heavy lobbying by the European Portable Battery Association and French NiCd manufacturer SAFT. NiCd batteries are used in equipment such as power tools and emergency lighting, and the decision was taken at a European Union meeting of “chefs de cabinet” earlier this month. This was despite European Commissioner for the Environment Mrs Margot Wallstrom's personal recommendation that NiCd batteries should be banned.
Speaking last month Mrs Wallstrom emphasised the environmental problems caused by NiCd batteries and said it was her intention to place restrictions on them. The EPBA and SAFT lobbied strongly against the proposal saying that the restriction on certain NiCd batteries was “unjustified” as it did not take into account the ongoing risk assessment on cadmium and added that there are no dangers to the environment when NiCd batteries are collected and recycled.
The UK's Department of Trade and Industry is thought to have welcomed the decision not to ban NiCd batteries and taken the view that a risk assessment underway out in Belgium should be completed before teh Commission through DG-Environment attempted to restrict the sale of this product. Jobs were also at stake in the UK – if a ban had been brought in it would have caused job losses at the Inco plant in South Wales which refines nickel to the high levels of purity needed in NiCds.
The Environment Commissioner says that other batteries work just as well as NiCd and cited the example of mobile phones which one year ago used mainly NiCd and now use lithium ion and nickel metal hydride batteries which are not considered “hazardous”. Manufacturers say that they have limited alternatives to the NiCd for items such as power tools and camcorders, but DG-Environment argues that if it can be done for phones then it can been done for other appliances as well.
Voluntary agreement
Now, DG-Environment is expected to issue a revised proposal in the autumn which is likely to include a voluntary agreement to promote the take back and recycling of NiCd batteries.
For portable batteries in general, collection targets of up to 75% and recycling targets of up to 55% have been proposed by the Commission, but this is seen as ambitious as currently the best scheme in the Netherlands has achieved a recovery rate of 60%. The directive is unusual insofar as it is the first one which will require the public to take action for themselves. Many consumers are said to identify with battery recycling as they feel that because of their weight they are valuable items and do not like throwing them away. Targets are likely to be finalised by DG-Environment by the end of the year which would see negotiations in 2002 and transposition in 2004 to hit targets by 2006.
For further information about batteries, see the letsrecycle report on Battery legislation.
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