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		Government must step in and stop battery mountain Wednesday, 22 August 2002 Local Euro-MP Roger Helmer has called for the government to step in and stop a looming battery mountain. A recent decision by the European Commission to adopt a new Battery Directive will require the collection and recycling of all batteries placed on the EU market. It calls for Member States to keep a register with all battery producers who will have to provide financial guarantees that they are able to manage spent batteries prior to placing their products on the market. If the government refuses to set up a national battery collection and recycling scheme we could end up with a mountain of batteries, reminiscent of the recent fridge mountains. The effect of nickel-cadmium batteries is said to be minimal, thus threatening the production of such batteries which are vital to the new technology involved with electric cars. East Midlands MEP Roger Helmer said: "The aim of the Directive is a worthy one, but it seems very little thought has been given to the practicalities of enforcing it. I am extremely concerned that the cost of this will be fall on local authorities, placing an even heavier burden on hard-pressed council tax-payers. The government must devise a plan. If they fail we could see a new metal mountain, only this on will go on, and on and on." Notes to editors The Background to Battery Recycling Approximately 800,000 tonnes of automotive batteries, 190,000 tonnes of industrial batteries and 160,000 tonnes of portable (consumer) batteries are placed on the EU market annually. The metals used in these batteries vary considerably: automotive batteries are mainly lead-acid batteries whereas industrial batteries comprise both lead-acid batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries. The portable battery market consists of general purpose batteries (mainly zinc carbon and alkaline manganese batteries), button cells (mainly mercury, zinc air, silver oxide, manganese oxide and lithium batteries) and rechargeable batteries (mainly nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, lithium ion and sealed lead-acid batteries). Proposed measures The stated purpose of the Directive is: Firstly, it aims to establish a closed-loop system for all batteries to avoid their incineration or disposal in landfill when they reach the end of their lives. On the basis of the closed-loop system, all batteries will have to be collected and recycled, and their metals will be re-introduced in the economic cycle. Secondly, it sets minimum rules for the functioning of national collection and recycling schemes in order to enhance the proper functioning of the internal market and guarantee a level playing field for all the actors involved in the battery life-cycle. In order to prevent batteries from entering the waste stream, the proposed Directive puts forward a number of different measures and targets: Ban on landfilling / incineration. For Automotive and industrial batteries. Collection targets For portable batteries equal to roughly four/five portable batteries per person per year. Portable nickel-cadmium batteries are of special concern due to the cadmium they contain. Their collection is covered by the 160 grams-target. However, it is proposed to set an additional collection target, as a safeguard to ensure that those batteries do not end up in the dustbin. This additional target is set at 80% of all portable nickel-cadmium batteries generated annually in each Member State Recycling targets and recycling efficiencies As a principle, after collection all batteries should be sent to recycling. For all types of batteries, the producers would be responsible for costs related to the collection, treatment and recycling. For spent portable batteries, the collection costs could be shared with the national, regional or local authorities. For spent industrial and automotive batteries, producers could conclude agreements on financing with their users. Member States will have to keep a register with all battery producers who will have to provide financial guarantees that they are able to manage spent batteries prior to placing their products on the market.