London: A consultation paper on the implementation of the EU Batteries Directive has been issued by BERR (Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform), which covers the UK.
Increasing the level of recycling and reducing some of the millions batteries that go to landfill annually are at the heart of plans published, according to BERR.
The proposals put forward are aimed at finding the best way to raise environmental performance of new batteries and ensure collection, treatment and recycling when they become waste. They apply to all types of batteries, including rechargeables and batteries supplied within electrical items.
Batteries and accumulators (essentially re-chargeable batteries) are categorised into portable, industrial and automotive with definitions provided in the paper. Interestingly accumulators from battery powered vehicles are classed as industrial rather than automotive and the Government is proposing to similarly class batteries from vehicles that also use other fuel sources to supplement electrical energy, e.g. hybrid cars.
The consultation paper seeks views on the collection and recycling of the various battery types involved, battery composition/marking requirements and possible synergies with existing legislation on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and end of life vehicles (ELV).
Portable batteries amongst WEEE
Batteries Directive
The Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators Directive (2006/66/EC) replaces Directive 91/157/EEC on Batteries and Accumulators Containing Certain Dangerous Substances. The 1991 Directive provided a limited range of environmental and product design controls, covering only an estimated seven percent of consumer batteries and accumulators on the EU market.
In 2003 the European Commission proposed to bring all batteries and accumulators within the scope of a new Directive, which was subsequently adopted in 2006 and came into force on 26 September 2006. The new Directive covers all batteries with the exception of some related to military or space applications.
The aim is to improve the environmental performance of batteries and associated activities of producers, distributors and end users with special emphasis on the treatment and recycling of waste batteries.
The UK along with other Member States will need to transpose the Directive into national law by 26 September 2008.
Key provisions
Key provisions of the new Directive cover:
- Restrictions on the use of mercury and cadmium
- Battery labelling requirements to aid consumer choice and recycling
- A 25% collection rate for waste portable batteries by September 2012, rising to 45% by September 2016
- Banning disposal by landfill or incineration of waste industrial and automotive batteries
- The introduction of “producer responsibility” obligations
- Use of recycling efficiencies to attain a high proportion by weight of waste batteries recycled
- Establishment of waste battery treatment standards.
As waste industrial and automotive batteries will be prohibited from treatment by landfill or incineration, this effectively means that they will be subject to a 100% recycling rate.
Although BERR is the Department with overall responsibility for the consultation, Defra (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) will lead on portable batteries.
BERR says that the Consultation Document is written as if the same approaches to implementation will be taken across the UK, but the Department acknowledges it will be for the Devolved Administrations to decide whether they wish to introduce their own legislation to transpose the environmental provisions in the Directive.
Earlier consultation
The consultation document has been published following extensive informal consultation by the Departments including with stakeholder groups, according to BERR, and devolved administrations have undertaken their own consultations.
The paper puts forward the approach BERR, DEFRA and Devolved Administrations have developed to achieve the Directive’s objectives, for consideration and comment.
Further information
The consultation paper can be found at the BERR website.
Consultation Starting Date: 20-12-07
Closing Date: 13-03-08
For Northern Ireland:
Start date will be: 07-01-08
Closing Date: 31-03-08