EBRA Announces 2008 Battery Recycling Statistics

The European Battery Recycling Association (EBRA), based in Brussels, has urged EU governments to intensify their battery recycling efforts to meet the mandatory 25 percent collection rate by 2012, as indicated by the passage of the 2006 European Battery Directive.

EU members were given until September 2008 to implement national rules and laws consistent with the Battery Directive, and today most countries have fully implemented the Battery Directive. However, despite the directive’s success in passing rules and laws, the EBRA reports that only 27,600 tons of used portable batteries originating from these countries were processed in 2008 by EBRA members, including 22,800 tons of primary batteries (including lithium primary and button cells) and 4,800 tons of portable rechargeable batteries (Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, Li-ion).

Compared to the 2007 figures (27,200 tons of used portable batteries recycled), the EBRA says it is disappointed at the 1 percent increase in the recycling rate of used portable batteries. The EBRA reports that the recycling rate for used primary batteries dropped 4.5 percent from 2007, while the recycling rate for used rechargeable batteries increased by 44 percent.

Considering the 190,000 tons of portable batteries marketed each year in Europe, the EBRA reports that the 27,600 tons recycled by its members in 2008 represents a 14.5 percent EBRA-member recycling rate.

The EBRA adds that, based on producers’, organizations’ and authorities’ statistics, about 8,000 tons of additional portable batteries have been collected in Europe and processed by non-EBRA members.

Seven EU member countries have reached the first directive target of 25 percent for 2012 as mandated by the 2006 European Battery Directive, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden and The Netherlands.