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Battery Legislation

The Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC prohibits the placing on the market of certain batteries and accumulators with a proportional mercury or cadmium content above a fixed threshold. In addition, it promotes a high rate of collection and recycling of waste batteries and accumulators and improvement in the environmental performance of all involved in the life-cycle of batteries and accumulators, including their recycling and disposal.

Its general objectives are:

  • To cut the amount of hazardous substances - in particular, mercury, cadmium and lead - dumped in the environment.
  • To ensure end-users are well informed by distributors, campaigns, visible markings on batteries, accumulators and battery packs etc

The Directive prohibits:

  • batteries and accumulators, whether or not incorporated in appliances, containing more than 0.0005% by weight of mercury (except for button cells, which must have a mercury content of less than 2% by weight);
  • portable batteries and accumulators, including those incorporated in appliances, with a cadmium content by weight of more than 0.002% (except for portable batteries and accumulators for use in emergency and alarm systems, medical equipment or cordless power tools).

Scope

The Batteries Directive applies to all types of batteries and accumulators, apart from those used in equipment to protect Member States' security or for military purposes, or in equipment designed to be sent into space.

 

Irish Legislation

The Irish government will implement the Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC in September 2008.

From 26 September 2008, all Producers and Distributors (Retailers) of batteries and/or accumulators must comply with these Battery Regulations.

Producers of batteries and/or accumulators must register with the WEEE Register Society and where they are supplying Portable or Automotive batteries can join a compliance scheme such as WEEE Ireland to help meet their collection, recycling and reporting requirements as specified in the Regulations.

For more details on compliance and how to join WEEE Ireland, see the following links: