European Battery Directive – End user information

The European Battery Directive 2006/66/EC restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in batteries and establishes rules for the collection, treatment, recycling and disposal of waste batteries and accumulators. It is transposed individually in each EU member state. For example, transposition in the UK is by the Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 and by the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009. The following information is important for end users of batteries:

1. Batteries are marked with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol (see title bar). The symbol reminds end users that batteries must not be disposed as municipal waste, but collected separately. Used batteries can be returned at the point of sale at no charge.
2. The reason for these regulations is that there are a number of environmental concerns which arise when dealing with the waste management of batteries and accumulators. These relate for the most part to the metals contained in these batteries. Mercury, lead and cadmium are by far the most problematic substances in the battery waste stream. Other metals commonly used in batteries, such as zinc, copper, manganese, lithium and nickel, may also constitute environmental hazards. However, the new regulations apply to all batteries and not just to hazardous ones because all batteries contain substances which are more or less harmful to the environment and because experience with previous regulations showed that ‘all battery’ collection schemes are more efficient than separate schemes for certain types of portable batteries.
3. Batteries should be recycled because battery recycling helps to save resources by allowing for the recovery of valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt and silver and requires less energy consumption. For example, using recycled cadmium and nickel requires respectively 46 % and 75 % less primary energy than the extraction and refining of virgin metals.

This information is based on the ‘Q&A on the Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC’ document that can be downloaded from the European Commission website under this link:

Link to the European Commission website