The LGA's demand has come in response to a European consultation on proposals for a new Batteries and Accumulators Directive (see letsrecycle.com story).
Cadmium is known to be hazardous to human health because it accumulates in the kidneys and can lead to kidney failure. The European Commission's proposals for revision to the Directive included collection and recycling targets for nickel cadmium batteries, but fell short of a complete ban.
The proposals also said that Member States should be required to monitor and report the amount of portable NiCd batteries in the municipal waste stream.
In its response to the consultation on these proposals, the LGA said the new Directive should put more emphasis on removing hazardous substances entirely from use.
“This preventative measure is vital for public health and also to prevent local authorities from having to undertake onerous and costly monitoring of the municipal waste stream,” the LGA said.
Data collection
In 2002, 158,000 tonnes of portable batteries and accumulators were sold in the EU including 10,994 tonnes of NiCd batteries. NiCd batteries represent less than 0.5% of the total municipal solid waste and would require extensive sampling to get the accurate data proposed by the Commission.
“Expenditure on this extensive monitoring would be better placed elsewhere in trying to prevent waste in the first place,” the LGA said.
The Association conceded that there could be exemptions for the use of NiCd batteries, such as emergency lighting.
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