Producer Responsibility: Batteries Directive
Key provisions of the Batteries Directive
Collection targets
- A 25% collection rate for waste portable household batteries to be met six years after entry into force of the Directive into UK law (circa 2012). There is also a 45% collection rate to be met ten years after entry into force (circa 2016).
- Prohibition of final disposal of automotive & industrial batteries into landfill and incineration, requiring, therefore, all industrial and automotive batteries to be recycled (indirectly, therefore, this means 100% collection rate).
- All identifiable separately collected batteries to be recycled.
Collection schemes
- Collection schemes for the return of used portable batteries are to be established. These are to be free of charge to the end user. As a producer responsibility Directive, the collection schemes are more than likely to be financed by producers. Distributors are also required to take back portable batteries unless there is an existing scheme in place that will meet the Directive’s environmental aims
- Producers of industrial batteries to offer free take back on all batteries from end users.
- Producers of automotive batteries to set up collection schemes for spent automotive batteries not covered under schemes established under the End of Life Vehicles Directive.
Prohibitions
- The Directive also prohibits the placing on the market of any batteries that contain more than 0.0005% of mercury by weight; and of portable batteries that contain more than 0.002% of cadmium by weight. There are some exemptions to the prohibition for button cells containing mercury and for batteries containing cadmium, namely those that are used in emergency/alarm systems, medical equipment and cordless power tools.
Recycling efficiency targets to be met (by 2011)
- 65% by average weight of lead-acid batteries and accumulators, including recycling of the lead has to be recycled;
- 75% by average weight of nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators, including recycling of the cadmium has to be recycled;
- Recycling of 50% by average weight of other waste batteries and accumulators.
Financing
- Producers of portable batteries, or third parties acting on their behalf, to finance the costs of recycling of all separately collected portable batteries.
- Producers and users of industrial and automotive batteries may conclude other financing arrangements.
- Producers, or third parties acting on their behalf, required to fund consumer information campaigns.
Background
Proposals for a new Batteries Directive were issued by the Commission on 24 November 2003 as the existing legislation on batteries only covered an estimated 7% of consumer batteries on the EU market containing mercury, lead and cadmium above a certain threshold level.
The new Directive (2006/66/EC) was agreed on 26 September 2006. It will apply to all types of batteries irrespective of their shape, weight, composition or use.
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Page last modified:
25 May 2007
Page published: 25 MAy 2007
