EU Directive on Batteries

The European Parliament has approved a new Directive on Batteries.  The Directive is expected to come into force this year and the UK is required to transpose the Directive into national law by 2008.  The Directive requires the establishment of collection schemes for spent portable batteries and accumulators, sets out recycling targets and provides for exemptions for small-scale producers.  

The Directive imposes a ban on the sale of batteries and accumulators containing more than 0.0005% of mercury and 0.002% of cadmium, except batteries for emergency and alarm systems, medical equipment and cordless power tools.

By 2008 easily accessible collection points must be available for consumers to return spent batteries free of charge. Distributors will have to take back spent portable batteries and accumulators- regardless of when the batteries were placed on the market.

With collection systems in place, the UK is required to achieve a collection target of 25% of portable batteries by 2012, followed by a 45% target by 2016. 

The Directive imposes recycling targets of 65% by average weight for lead-acid batteries and accumulators, 75% for nickel-cadmium and 50% for others.
 
All battery producers must be registered though exemptions from the collection and recycling targets will apply to the smaller producers.
 

July 2006