The Council of the European Union adopted a new regulation Monday to strengthen sustainability standards. batteries and batteries have a more cyclical life cycle, with recycling targets and a requirement for storage devices to be removable and replaceable by the end of 2027.
“At the end of their useful life, batteries contain many valuable resources and we should be able to reuse these critical raw materials instead of relying on third countries for supply“, in a statement, Spain’s Ecological Transition Minister, whose country holds the term presidency of the Council, is Teresa Ribera.
The Spanish vice-president added that “the new regulations will increase the competitiveness of the European industry and ensure that new batteries are sustainable and contribute to the ecological transition”.
The regulation adopted between the Parliament and the Council, shall apply to all batteries, including portable batteries, electric vehicle batteries, industrial batteries, starter batteries, as well as those used in vehicles and machinery.as well as those used for light transport such as electric bicycles or mopeds.
The Council added that the regulation aims to promote the circularity of these devices and therefore establishes “requirements for end-of-life, including collection purposes and obligations, objectives for materials recovery, and expanded responsibility of the manufacturer.”
Special, Manufacturers will need to collect 63% of portable battery waste by 2027 and raise this threshold to 73% by the end of 2030.
Also, set a goal recovery of lithium from waste cells and batteries 50% by the end of 2027 and 80% by the end of 2031, but subject to change depending on market, technological developments and availability of this material.
It also introduces Minimum levels of recycled content required for industrial batteries, on a per mineral basis, with 16% for cobalt, 85% for lead and 6% for lithium and nickel, among other points.
“Removable and Replaceable”
Batteries or portable batteries integrated into electronic devices by the end of 2027 must be “removable and replaceable by the end user”Light transport vehicles will need to have their batteries replaced by a professional, while leaving some time for operators to adapt designs.
Devices will need to display a label with information about components and recycled content from 2026, and via a QR code from 2027.
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Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]