Collection and recycling of spent portable batteries-the actual situation in Europe

Collection and recycling of spent batteries on a voluntary basis instead of forced by law has advantages and disadvantages: on the one side is flexibility, on the other side is the “freerider” problem and the unclear legal situation concerning the antitrust legislation, national and Europe-wide. The European legislation-EC directives concerning environmental matters, a multitude of national laws, decrees and guidelines have to be regarded. National legislation with national collection schemes and financing schemes do exist. The EPBA (European Portable Battery Association) Scheme for Collection and Recycling is a guideline for all battery producers in the EC member states. There are recycling facilities today but what is economically feasible for the “today-nonrecycables” in the future? A precondition for economic recycling is sorting by chemical systems. Recycling processes for primary alkaline cells, zinc-carbon cells and lithium cells are developed and feasible when there is 0% mercury (<5 PPM in the battery waste stream)