Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators Directive (2006/66/EC)–new challenges in environmental issues

Do not exclude batteries from your company’s environmental policies, as they are the next main items being addressed in EU legislation.

The disputed directive on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators (2006/66/EC) was finally passed on 6 September 2006 and formally announced by EU members on 26 September 2006. EU members are required to implement this battery directive into their respective laws within two years (before September 2008); the battery law (91/157/EEC) that was in effect in some nations was officially retired with the announcement of this new law.

The new battery directive regulates a broader range than that of the old law (which was only applicable to batteries that contain mercury, cadmium, and lead). All types of battery fall under the most recent directive, including newly sold and discarded batteries and accumulators. Car batteries are also now regulated. Overall, the new battery directive is looking to achieve two primary goals: to improve the level of environmental protection and to ensure proper operation of the EU market.

The new battery directive requires the level of mercury contained within a product to not exceed 5ppm. Portable batteries and accumulators are subject to an extra chemical-materials limitation, restricting cadmium levels to not more than 20ppm. In addition, portable batteries of the button variety are restricted to a mercury-level limitation of 2%.
The new battery directive also considers the functionality of different types of products and their recycling possibilities. The following exemptions are submitted for three types of batteries or accumulators:

1. Emergency alarm systems, including emergency lighting equipment
2. Medical equipment
3. Wireless power tools

In the new directive, to ensure all discarded batteries are properly recycled, collection rates and timelines for discarded batteries in EU nations are clearly defined. Before 26 September 2012, each nation has to achieve a battery-recycling rate of over 25%; before 26 September 2016, each nation has to achieve a battery-recycling rate of over 45%.
Furthermore, in consideration of the difficulties in recycling procedures and environmental impact factors for different types of batteries, the EU has stipulated the following recycling-efficiency rates for each member nation to achieve:

1. Recycling efficiency of 65% for lead-acid batteries and accumulators
2. Recycling efficiency of 75% for Ni-Cad batteries and accumulators
3. Recycling efficiency of 50% for other discarded batteries and accumulators

In the new battery directive, the manufacturer’s duties and responsibilities are also clearly defined and regulated.

For products, newly manufactured batteries have to be marked with the recycle bin icon (please see figure 1). When the contents exceed the permitted levels, there must be indication of what the chemical materials are above the limits (please see figure 2).
Manufacturers, including retailers for the EU market, now carry responsibility for financing the recycling and processing for discarded batteries and accumulators. A special point of interest is that under the new battery directive, if a company produces an electronic device that uses a battery, that company is automatically subject to regulation and defined as a “manufacturer”.
Adopting from the WEEE directive (2002/96/EC), the battery directive stipulates that the manufacturer also has to complete the registration process in the nation in which the battery is sold. To avoid redundant fees for manufacturers, the battery directive stipulates that batteries installed in discarded electronics must be recycled in accordance with WEEE regulations. But it is in the battery directive itself that recycling rates and category types are set forth.
From 2005, TÜV Rheinland Taiwan has been providing local electronics manufacturers with professional inspection and inquiry services for EU environmental regulations -- WEEE disassembly analysis, eco-friendly design, registration to each EU member nation, and even professional chemical testing and analysis services in accordance with RoHS directive (2002/95/EC).

Regarding the requirements of the new battery directive about registration and limitation levels on chemicals used, we focus on finding the best possible solutions and most reliable chemical-testing methods for clients.

      Fig.1              Fig.2