WEEE Ireland – Ready for New EU Battery EPR Rules Starting 18 August 2025
August 18, 2025
Chapter VIII of the European Union Batteries Regulation (2023/1542) (herein the ‘EUBR’) came into application on 18 August 2025, introducing enhanced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules for all battery Producers. Producers and distributors from this date must comply with new obligations in every EU Member State. WEEE Ireland, serving 96% of the Irish battery industry as the country’s largest WEEE and Battery Compliance Scheme, is committed to delivering the support needed to assist our Members in fulfilling these new requirements.
Key Compliance Requirements
Under these enhanced EPR provisions, battery Producers must:
- Register in each EU Member State where Producers place batteries on the market for the first time
- Appoint an authorised representative in each Member State in which they place batteries on the market where, for the first time, they do not have a legal presence
- Provide free takeback of waste batteries from end-users of the same category which they place on the market, regardless of chemistry, brand or origin
- Ensure costs covered by the Producer for the waste battery’s collection, subsequent transport and treatment, and information campaigns, are shown separately to the end-user at the point of sale of a new battery
- In the case of sales with delivery to end-users, inform the end-user when ordering a battery of the takeback arrangements for a waste battery
- Ensure batteries are marked with a separate collection symbol
WEEE Ireland Resources
In 2023, the EUBR amended the number of battery categories from 3 to 5:
- Portable
- Light Means of Transport (LMT)
- Starting, Lighting and Ignition (SLI)
- Industrial
- Electric Vehicle (EV)
WEEE Ireland offers compliance support and solutions under all 5 categories.
Portable
New collection targets are outlined for portable batteries in the EUBR:
(a) 45 % by 31 December 2023
(b) 63 % by 31 December 2027
(c) 73 % by 31 December 2030
Although these collection rates are currently based on a 3-year average of placed on the market figures for portable batteries as reported through the Blackbox monthly, WEEE Ireland are actively collaborating with and supporting EUCOBAT (European battery compliance association) with the development of an Available for Collection (AfC) collection rate calculation methodology.
The WEEE Ireland iconic Blue Battery Recycling Boxes can be found across the country, where Irish consumers can recycle their waste portable batteries for free. This extensive network allows WEEE Ireland to facilitate the Recycle for Good campaign, with an annual contribution being made to charity in recognition of the public’s recycling efforts. Request empty Blue Battery Boxes or a collection of full boxes here. Larger retail locations will be provided with a retail drum and cover where desired.
Light Means of Transport (LMT)
Retailers who sell EEE (e.g. e-scooters) & batteries (LMT batteries supplied within the e-scooters) have a legal obligation to take back waste batteries for recycling free of charge on a like-for-like basis. To register as a collection point, please contact WEEE Ireland at operations@weeeireland.ie with the following details:
- Name and address of your company or store, including Eircode
- Contact details (contact name, phone number, and email address)
WEEE Ireland welcomes Members sharing this information with their clients and encourages LMT vendors to engage with the free takeback service (within WEEE Ireland’s area of operations).
WEEE Ireland will supply the required materials to ensure the safe storage of waste LMT batteries / Lithium Battery Packs, including:
- UN-approved drum with vented lid: Designed to safely store and transport waste batteries
- Plastic liner: To line the drum & prevent leakage
- Vermiculite: Insulating material used to create separation between battery packs/cells
You can find more information in our Waste Battery Presentation & Storage Guide.
Starting, Lighting, Ignition (SLI)
SLI is a new battery category under the EUBR, which accounts for designed to supply electric power for starting, lighting, or ignition and can also be used for auxiliary or backup purposes in vehicles, and other means of transport or machinery. WEEE Ireland continues to support our automotive Members, who account for 100% of the Irish market, with compliance solutions for these battery categories. Members who wish to organise for the collection of a waste SLI battery should contact our Operations Team through operations@weeeireland.ie.
Industrial
WEEE Ireland already supports over 240 industrial battery Producers in Ireland with their takeback and collection obligations through dedicated programmes, such as the Industrial Farm Fence Batteries campaign. This support will continue under the EUBR, and Producers of such batteries can contact our operations teams through operations@weeeireland.ie to arrange for waste industrial battery collection and treatment.
Electric Vehicles (EV)
WEEE Ireland has always offered compliance solutions to industrial – including EVs – battery Producers. With the separation of EV into a new category under the EUBR, WEEE Ireland has been working with automotive industry stakeholders, including SIMI and ELVES, to support the setup of a dedicated Scheme for the EV battery sector. We will update Members as this progresses, but in the meantime, WEEE Ireland remains a Scheme for certification of all battery Producers. WEEE Ireland’s dedicated EV Battery webpage provides detailed information on how to safely manage waste EV batteries and arrange for their collection with our team.
Waste Battery Health and Safety
The utmost care must be taken when handling waste batteries of any kind. Our Waste Battery Safety webpage provides information on recommended precautions and useful best practice resources and guidance that all battery Producers and retailers should familiarise themselves with.
Battery Steering Committee
WEEE Ireland coordinates a Battery Steering Committee, which includes Members and Trade Associations from the battery sector. Committee meetings serve to facilitate direct updates and industry discussion on battery-related affairs, while providing Committee Members the opportunity to express any concerns, opinions and feedback on battery regulatory advancements which can then be considered by WEEE Ireland while acting as our Members’ representative in related reviews and consultations. Participation in this Committee is open to all WEEE Ireland Members, and we strongly encourage our battery Members to get involved in order to ensure they are adequately represented in these discussions. Interest in the Battery Steering Committee can be notified to our Membership Department at info@weeeireland.ie.
WEEE Ireland is actively supporting its Members in all these areas. The Scheme has updated its compliance processes to align with the EUBR, for example, enhancing data reporting systems and expanding collection programmes for emerging battery categories. We remain in close contact with colleagues and experts across other Member States through EUCOBAT to support a pan-European and harmonised approach to EPR Scheme development under the EUBR.
We advise all Producers to review newsletters and updates and attend the upcoming sector meetings to stay up to date on changes and reminds them that as part of the WEEE Ireland Compliance Scheme they have the necessary support to fulfil these duties.
Relevant Contacts
Collection point, Takeback and Recycling queries operations@weeeireland.ie
Membership, Certification and Compliance Queries info@weeeireland.ie
Producer Registration and Reporting info@producerregister.ie
Enforcement info@epa.ie
