The Local Government International Bureau, which lobbies on behalf of the Local Government Association at a European level, said that recycling targets agreed by the EU Environment Council this week were “conservative”.
”Power tools will be exempted for up to four years. This is unsatisfactory, as it will allow hazardous waste to continue to enter the municipal waste stream.“
– Local Government International Bureau
Under the proposed Directive, which will now be sent to the European Parliament for a second reading, producers would have to collect 25% of batteries for recycling within four years of the Directive coming into force and 40% within 10 years. At the moment, the UK collects about 0.1% of its batteries.
Local authorities welcomed amendments to the original Commission proposals stating explicitly that producers, not councils, will meet the costs of collecting batteries.
But the LGIB said that the agreed collection targets were “lacking ambition” and warned that several EU Member States would be likely to exceed the highest target before the Directive even comes into force.
Original proposals from the European Commission had put forward an aim to collect 70% of batteries for recycling. The Commission had also wanted an 80% collection target for batteries containing the hazardous substance cadmium. But, both of these aims were dropped this week.
Cadmium
A ban on cadmium in batteries is still on the table, but with a major exemption for cordless power drills.
The LGIB said: “Power tools, which make up 70% of the market, will be exempted for up to four years. Local authority representatives have argued that this is unsatisfactory, as it will allow hazardous waste to continue to enter the municipal waste stream.”
Although there are hazardous waste regulations in place to provide special treatment for hazardous wastes from the commercial and industrial sector, materials like cadmium batteries placed in household bins do not have special treatment standards before being dumped.
Register for free to comment