Battery Directive
A new batteries Directive was proposed by the European Commission in November 2003 which sought to provide a single legal instrument to control the production, safe disposal and recycling of all types of batteries and accumulators. On 2 May 2006 the EU agreed changes to the draft directive which if approved and upon publication in the EU Official Journal will be in force in 2 years time. The Directive places financial responsibility for the cost of battery collection and recycling on the shoulders of the battery manufacturers, importers and distributors. These ‘producer’ groups will also be required to pay for public information campaigns and manufacturers will need to start redesigning appliances so that spent batteries and accumulators can be easily removed for recycling. Distributors will have to offer free take back services for spent batteries and accumulators either in house or by nominating collection schemes.
Once the Directive is transposed into UK law we will have four years in which to reach a targeted collection rate of 25% for all portable household batteries, this will increase to 45% four years later. It is expected that recycling efficiency targets will need to be met by 2011; these require a 65% collection and recycling rate for all lead-acid batteries, a 75% collection and recycling rate for all nickel-cadmium batteries and a 50% collection and recycling rate for all other types. All automotive and industrial batteries and accumulators will need to be collected for recycling, although the UK currently has one of the highest automotive battery recycling rates in Europe.
The Directive will also places limits on the amount of mercury and cadmium which can be used in the manufacture of batteries and accumulators. The majority of battery types are not classed as hazardous however some such as nickel-cadmium (NiCd) are hazardous and will present collection issues as if mixed with other battery types the entire load will be classed as hazardous waste.
|