Dec 29, 2011 10:03 AM
2010 Battery recycling rates in the EU: how did we do?
EBRA, the association of the European battery recycling industry has compiled figures for the quantities of batteries and accumulators recycled by its members during 2010. These statistics cover all types of batteries and accumulators, primary or secondary, portable, industrial and automotive, with the exception of lead-acid batteries.
Recycled quantities differ from collection figures for two reasons. The first is the ‘variation of inventories along the recycling supply chain (from collection to sorting before arriving to the recycling plants)’ and that is a percentage of batteries have not been recycled by EBRA members and are therefore not included in final numbers (although EBRA’s members do represent 85% of the EU market). EBRA have provided estimation for non EBRA recyclers in order to give a full picture of the EU battery recycling landscape.
2010 results compared to 2009 have resulted in the following trends:
- Alkaline and ZnC: +2%
- NiCd: + 18% (mainly portable)
- NiMH: -3%
- Li-primary: + 36% (small quantity, partially recycled)
- Li-secondary: - 27%
EBRA is predicting a ‘further increase of the recycled tonnage as Member States implement the Battery Directive and reach the related collection and recycling targets. In 2010, even with the closure of some capacity for spent alkaline batteries, the existing recycling capacity was more than enough to process all the batteries sent for recycling …Further capacity increases will however be necessary in the coming decade to face the recyclingneeds linked to new battery technologies as well as the sharp increase expected from the Emobility sector (Hybrid and full electric cars, e-bikes, etc.).’
It is also interesting to note that in 2010, around 1300 tons of spent batteries were imported from outside the EU for recycling by EBRA members. This can be seen as evidence of the lead that Europe has in battery recycling facilities.
How do the figures above fit with your recycling efforts? Is it easier to recycle some forms of battery more than others? What suggestions do you have to improve the process?
Source: http://www.ebra-recycling.org/sites/default/files/EBRA%20PR-%20BatteryStatistics_year2010_0.pdf
- Click here for more Batteries Directive information or visit our online store.
- Got an opinion you want to share? Leave your comments below