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 The background of RECHARGE activities

 
The market for rechargeable batteries is a fast growing business. Today’s mobile society requires storable energy in all circumstances using e.g. mobile phones, portable computers and other tools taken for granted in our civilized world.

RECHARGE therefore watches closely the latest legislative developments on batteries, which might have an impact on using these indispensable energy storages.



 

 
The disparate implementation of Directive 91/157/EEC (battery directive) has led to a patchwork of legislation across the EU Member States and a spate of infringement proceedings from the European Commission.

In countries where voluntary initiatives have been adopted for the collection of batteries, such as Holland and Belgium, efficient collection rates are obtained after the sorting process. Even more encouraging results have been obtained in countries with more recently set up collection schemes, such as France and Germany.
 

 
As an example the launching of a Voluntary Commitment for NiCd cells, prior to the adoption of the revised battery directive requiring collection of all batteries, will ensure that efficient collection systems will be in existence in all Member States at the time when the requirement for collection of all batteries is transposed into national legislation.

Also, the knowledge gained by the National Collection and Recycling Organisations (NCROs) will be invaluable to the nascent entities, and will be used for the efficient collection of all batteries after adaptation and implementation of the revised battery directive. This directive will be complemented by the collection of equipment typically containing or requiring the use of batteries as laid down in the Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).