International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

24.7 Environmental Benefits
The Batteries Directive aims to minimise the negative impact of waste batteries and
accumulators on the environment, and to harmonise the heavy metal content and
labelling of batteries and accumulators across the European market.
Most batteries contain heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead), which are the main
cause for environmental concern. If waste batteries are not disposed of correctly,
heavy metals may leak when the battery corrodes, and so contribute to soil and water
pollution and endanger wildlife. The main environmental objective is to create a
closed-loop system for all batteries to avoid their incineration or disposal in a landfill
(Section 25.5 explores in more detail the environmental benefits of the Directive).
24.8 Implementation Costs
Producers will be required to finance any net costs arising from the collection,
storage, treatment and recovery and/or disposal of waste batteries including those
incorporated into EEE and/or battery packs, any public information campaign on the
collection, storage, treatment and recovery and/or disposal of portable batteries.
Each producer shall be required to collect, as a minimum, no later than 26
September 2012, 25%, and 26 September 2016, 45% of the quantity by type of
portable battery he or she places on the market. 531
Reliable data is not available to accurately estimate the full cost implications of the
new scheme in Ireland. Based on the limited information provided by producers
regarding quantities placed on the market it is estimated that at the very least annual
producer costs for the environmentally sound management of waste portable
batteries would be the lower range shown in Table 24-4.
Based on the extrapolated data from the DEFRA report referenced in section 24.6
and information provided by local authorities concerning costs incurred in having
waste batteries deposited at civic amenity sites collected, an upper range (and
perhaps more realistic) is also shown in Table 24-4. It should be noted that the cost
per tonne for both these scenarios is estimated at €1,710.
Local authorities have indicated that the costs associated with managing waste
batteries deposited at civic amenity sites are minimal. It is also believed that any
additional costs related to enforcing the Regulations would be small given the
synergies with the existing WEEE requirements. The wide variation in the estimated
costs reflects the paucity of reliable information on which to base an accurate
estimation.
531 Waste Management (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 268 of 2008)
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International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes