This past summer the European Commission has again brought up a proposal to ban cadmium batteries by 2008 and require that 75% of batteries be recovered, according to “Battery Recovery Laws International.”
United States power toolmakers are in Europe arguing it would be impossible to maintain a recycling infrastructure on a battery that is scheduled to be extinct. There are rumors the EC is leaning toward giving up on the ban if they can impose deposits on batteries to ensure high recovery rates. No country has been able to recycle more than about half of its ni-cd batteries in separate programs, and the cost can be expensive.
Today, 16 countries have mandatory recycling laws for rechargeable batteries. In the United States, rechargeable battery makers are putting about $9 million per year into a national collection program, and with about 3.8 million pounds of rechargeable batteries recovered in 2000. Nine states require recycling of ni-cd's.
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