Batteries and accumulators
Lastly, Directive 2006/66 on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, in addition to the “primary objective” to minimise their negative impact and that of their waste, harmonises requirements concerning the heavy metal content and labelling of batteries and accumulators (preamble, recital No 1).
The Members States must endeavour to achieve high levels of recycling through their separate collection. However, such separate collection leads to a specific target: a minimal collection rate of 45% (Article 10). The Member States shall ensure that appropriate collection schemes are in place for waste “portable” batteries and accumulators which enable end-users to discard them at “an accessible collection point in their vicinity, having regard to population density”, at no cost and without an obligation to purchase a new battery or accumulator (unless an assessment shows that alternative existing schemes are at least as effective in attaining the environmental aims pursued (Article 8(1)).
Producers or third parties should set-up schemes using best available techniques (BAT) to provide for the treatment and recycling of such end-of-life products, at the minimum the removal of all fluids and acids after extraction from the devices containing them, which extraction from the products must be facilitated at the design stage as well as by appropriate information unless justified by reasons pertaining to safety, operation, health or data integrity. As to recycling, while specific targets are not imposed on the Member States (the absence of them is also shown in Table 1) , minimum recycling efficiencies are expected from them (Article 13(4) and Annex III, B).
The costs of collection, treatment and recycling of all waste portable batteries should be borne by the producers of batteries and accumulators (Article 16(1)), i.e., the person who places them for the first time within the territory of the Member State involved on a professional basis, including incorporating them into appliances or vehicles (Article 3(12)). The symbol already used for EEEs, representing a crossed-out garbage can on wheels, must be affixed to all batteries, accumulators and battery packs, visibly, legibly and indelibly, as well as the chemical symbol of any heavy metal present, beyond a certain trigger (Article 21).