Index

1. Latest Information

On 24 November 2003 the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new Directive on batteries and accumulators and spent batteries and accumulators. The proposed directive will, unlike existing community legislation on batteries, apply to all types of batteries regardless of their chemical composition.  The previous directives only applied to an estimated 7% of all portable batteries placed on the EU market annually with certain mercury, lead and cadmium content, and the legislation failed to provide a framework for battery collection and recycling. The scope of the draft directive covers all batteries irrespective of their shape, weight, composition or use. However batteries and accumulators used for military applications and for the protection of EU Member States are exempted.

The main objectives of the proposal as stated by the European Commission are to contribute to a high level of environmental protection and to contribute to the proper functioning of the internal market.

Spent batteries contribute to the final disposal of waste in the Community (in 2002 45.5% of all portable batteries sold in the EU went to final disposal), with significant environmental concerns linked to the materials they contain, especially mercury, cadmium and lead.  Batteries containing any of these three materials are classified as hazardous.  Mercury is highly toxic especially to the developing nervous system, cadmium is a toxic and carcinogenic substance and lead above certain concentrations is toxic to humans. 

The requirements of the draft directive include

• A collection target of 160 grams per inhabitant for spent portable batteries to be achieved by member States within four years of the Directive being transposed into national legislation (equivalent at current sales levels to a 43% collection rate in the UK)
• A collection rate of 80% for spent portable nickel cadmium to be achieved by Member States within four years of the Directive being transposed.
• Free of charge collection schemes for spent portable batteries to be established within one year of the Directive being transposed by Member States with at least 90% recycling.
• Within three years of the Directive being transposed by Member States, 55% by average weight of the materials contained in portable batteries must be recycled (except for nickel cadmium batteries where 100% of the cadmium and 75% of the other materials must be recycled).
• Prohibition by Member States of the disposal of industrial and automotive batteries in landfill or by incineration.

DTI presently leads on the negotiation of the draft directive. The Department intends to issue a discussion paper on the draft Directive by February 2004. A series of stakeholder meeting is also planned to raise awareness of the proposed Directive. Details of the discussion paper and future developments relating to the negotiation of the draft Directive will be made available on this site.

A copy of the proposal for a new Directive and also the Extended Impact Assessment supporting it can be obtained by using the link below.

• European Commission batteries website

2. Previous EU Consultation

On 25 February 2003 the European Commission published a "Consultation Document on the Batteries Directive Revision" as part of a new process of public consultation on the revision of the directive on batteries and accumulators. Comments were welcomed by 28 April 2003. The consultation document and the UK Government’s response can be obtained by using the links below.

• EC Consultation Document on a revision of the Batteries Directive
• UK Government Response

3. Other documents

Explanatory Memorandum produced by the Government to set out the provisions of the draft directive, as submitted to Parliament in January 2003. Explanatory Memorandums are submitted to Parliament to explain the context and implications of all new policy proposals. It is reproduced here to provide further background for interested stakeholders and as part of the Governments response to the Better Regulation Task Force report "Environmental Legislation- getting the message across" where the Government has committed to making more information available on the detail and context of, in particular, the WEEE and ELV Directives.

•  Draft Batteries Directive- Explanatory Memorandum

• DTI batteries fact sheet

• Executive Summary- “Analysis of the Environmental Impact and Financial Costs of a Possible New European Directive on Batteries” a study undertaken by Environmental Resources Management for DTI  

The DTI supported a voluntary battery collection and recycling pilot scheme in Bristol, launched in September 2002. The aim of the Bristol Battery Recycling Campaign was to investigate whether a citywide battery recycling scheme is possible in the UK, examine the ways in which this could be carried out, and the issues surrounding such an initiative. On 16 September 2003 the campaign completed a highly success pilot year having collected 12 tonnes of spent portable batteries, surpassing its target of 10 tonnes. A report on the findings of the campaign can be obtained by using the link below.

• Battery Recycling Campaign in Bristol

This specifies that batteries containing mercury, cadmium or lead should be collected separately when spent and should carry an identifying label. The Directive also sets permissible heavy metal limits, and requires certain battery-powered equipment to be designed in such a way as to make their batteries easily removable. (Ref. OJ L 078 26.03.1991 p.38)

Specifies which symbol the above batteries should carry, viz. a crossed-out wheelie bin, as well as the appropriate chemical symbol. (Ref. OJ L 264 23.10.1993 p.51)

This Decision reduces the permissible limit of mercury in all primary and secondary cells to 0.0005% and prohibits, from 1.1.2000 at the latest, the marketing of batteries not meeting this limit. It also prohibits, from the same date, the marketing of button cells containing more than 2% mercury by weight. (Ref. OJ L 001 05.01.1991 p.1)

Available from Stationery Office-formerly HMSO tel. 020 7873 9090 or fax 020 7873 8200 and Stationery Office web site at:

The Batteries and Accumulators (Containing Dangerous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 2001. This SI transposes Commission Directive 98/101/EC (see above) into UK law. Available from Stationery Office web site at: http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2001/20012551.htm

5. Relevant links

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Environment Agency

British Battery Manufacturers Association

European Portable Battery Association

European Battery Recyclers Association

John Lownds                                                        

Bay 425                                                     

Department of Trade and Industry                                 

151 Buckingham Palace Road                        

London                                                      

SW1W 9SS                                               

Tel 020 7215 4175                                    

Fax 020 7215 5835                                   

Email john.lownds@dti.gsi.gov.uk                  

Tamara Miller 

Policy Advisor- Producer Responsibility Unit

Waste Management Division  

DEFRA, 7/F8 Ashdown House      

123 Victoria St

London SW1E 6DE

Tel 020 7082 8781

Fax 020 7082 8764

Email  tamara.miller@DEFRA.GSI.GOV.UK

Return to Index