BATTERIES from mobile phones, laptops and even cars are among those that must be recyclable within the next four years in accordance with a new European Union regulation, as explained by Spain's minister for ecological transition.
Teresa Ribera says reusing the materials in batteries, particularly lithium, will mean Spain and the rest of the EU will be able to produce new ones on home soil.
“At the end of their useful life, batteries contain many valuable resources, and we should be able to use these critical primary materials again instead of depending upon third countries to supply them,” Sra Ribera explains.
The requirement, voted on in the Council of Europe – currently presided by Spain – will be enforced in all member States from the year 2027.
“These new rules will help make European industry more competitive, and will guarantee that new batteries are sustainable and contribute towards the 'green' transition,” says Teresa Ribera.
All batteries, and remains of incomplete batteries, will be subject to the regulation – from machinery of all sizes from industrial to small electronics, from those sold in packs in supermarkets for household implements such as clocks and torches, and from vehicles.
This includes batteries used in conventional-fuel cars to make them start, as well as those used instead of fuel in electrically-powered vehicles.
Car batteries will also be recycled under EU law from 2027 (photo by Spanish electricity board Iberdrola)
Guidelines and requisites for collecting, dismantling and passing on used batteries are now being drawn up, and will place greater responsibility on producers of all types of industrial and consumer goods.
They will be expected to collect up and reuse material from 63% of battery waste by the year 2027, and at least 73% from the year 2033.
By the end of 2027, a minimum of 50% of lithium from discarded batteries must be reused, rising to at least 80% by the year 2031.
These targets may be amended over time according to the market, advances in technology, and availability of material, Teresa Ribera says.
Minimum recycling targets will be set from the start for different types of industrial battery material – 16% for cobalt, 85% for lead and 6% for lithium and nickel.
Batteries will no longer be fixed or built-in parts of any product or machinery from the beginning of 2027 - they will be required to be removable by the end user or consumer, or by professional mechanics in the case of vehicles.
This means manufacturers have three-and-a-half years to amend their product designs if necessary.
From 2026, all devices must carry labels detailing their components and how much of each have been recycled, and from 2027, this information must be available to consult by scanning a QR code.
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