The directive requires member states to take appropriate steps to ensure that spent batteries and accumulators are collected separately with a view to their recovery or disposal
In 1991, the EU Directive on Batteries and Accumulators (91/157/EEC) was introduced.
It requires that batteries containing more than 25mg of mercury (except alkaline manganese batteries), 0,025% of cadmium by weight and 0.4% lead by weight to be collected separately from household waste for recycling or special disposal.
It also sets permissible limits for these heavy metals.
The directive largely affects lead-acid, NiCd and mercuric oxide batteries.
The 1991 directive was amended by a 1998 directive (98/101/EEC) in order to adapt the original directive to technical progress.
The amendment further reduces the permissible heavy metal limits and prohibits the marketing of batteries and accumulators containing more than 0.0005% of mercury and button cells containing more than 2% of mercury by weight from 1 January 2000.
A further EU directive (93/86/EEC) requires the marking of button cells or batteries made of button cells:.
Containing more than 5ppm (parts of per million) mercury per cell up to 2% mercury, applying to silver oxide, zinc air and alkaline button cells.
Containing more than 0.025% cadmium by weight, applying to nickel cadmium batteries.
Containing more than 0.4% lead by weight, applying to lead acid batteries.
Currently, the EU and its member states are negotiating a further amendment to the 1991 directive.
The draft directive is expected to propose the following measures:.
Member states will be expected to ensure that 90 % of portable batteries enter recycling process.
A recycling weight-based efficiency target, ie, this proportion of materials will have to be recovered during the recycling process.
This is to be achieved within three years of the directive coming into force.
A mandatory weight-based collection target per head of population was set.
This replaces earlier percentage targets.
Mandatory collection targets of 80% and a recycling target of 75% (with 100% for the cadmium component) for NiCds.
A ban on land-filling and incineration of all industrial and automotive batteries.
Producers of all types of batteries will be responsible for treatment and disposal costs, except for small household batteries.
The directive sets collection targets for portable batteries of 25% and 45% of the average annual sales over the past three years.
These targets are to be achieved respectively four and eight years after the transposition of the directive.
The directive now requires a further reading by the European Parliament and is expected to be formally adopted by mid-2006.
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