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

1995. 537 This proliferation is principally explained by the rapid growth of widely
available, low cost consumer electrical goods, such as mobile phones, lap top
computers and MP3 players. It is estimated that in the EU well over 1 million tonnes
of batteries enter the market each year (Table 25-1). The global demand for batteries
is projected to grow by more than 5% annually over the coming years, with the
portable batteries market growing fastest. 538
Table 25-1: Tonnage estimation of batteries placed on the market in the EU in 2002
461
Battery Battery Type Type Type
Tonnage Tonnage placed placed on on market market in in 2002
2002
Portable 160,000
Automotive 800,000
Industrial 190,000
TOTAL TOTAL
1,150,000
1,150,000
Source: EC Press Release IP/03/1596 (2003), Batteries: Commission requires collection and
recycling of all batteries, November 2003.
The extent to which portable batteries are separately collected (and by extension,
waste prevented in terms of reduced amounts of hazardous materials to
landfill/incineration) varies widely across battery types and between Member States.
Differences between countries are explored more closely in section 25.2.2, but
generally speaking the collection rates of portable batteries are low across Member
States, while collection rates for industrial and automotive are considerably higher.
Automotive battery recycling has been taking place in Europe for a long time due to
the inherent value of lead, the principle material contained in these batteries. Until
very recently metal prices have been extremely buoyant, with lead no exception (see
Figure 25-1). As a consequence the economics have pushed collection rates
extremely high. For example in the UK, which is typical of other EU Member States
and beyond, collection rates are currently around 97%. 539 Given that approximately
98% of industrial batteries consist of lead-acid batteries, the situation is almost
identical. Nonetheless, lead prices are subject to fluctuations and as such the
economic incentive to collect and recycle these batteries could also fluctuate. Very
few Member States have taken specific measures to ensure a continued effective
collection of these batteries. In Italy and Germany there is a deposit scheme for
automotive batteries which would still guarantee their return. However, the actual
collection and recycling of those batteries is still largely dependent on the lead price.
537 Bio Intelligence Service (2003) Impact Assessment on Selected Policy Options for Revision of the
Battery Directive, Final Report for EC, July 2003.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/batteries/pdf/eia_batteries_final.pdf
538 Ibid.
539 Arcadis/Eunomia Report for the EC, Optimising Markets for Recycling, due to be published late
2008.
International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes