2023-07-14 19:55:00
A few weeks ago the European Parliament approved a bill that would force manufacturers of small electronics to make batteries easily replaceable by the user. But since Parliament neither really carves nor cuts, it only becomes law at EU level if the European Commission subsequently gives the go-ahead. In other words, the group of 27 have to give their approval unanimously. This is how it has been now, so the law to improve the replacement of batteries is already a law of the European Union.
18 jun 2023
It will enter into force at the beginning of 2027, in three and a half years, to give manufacturers time to adapt to the regulations. No using huge amounts of glue when fixing a battery or making them difficult to access. It is not necessary to go back that a cover was removed to access it, but that it be simple, such as removing only a couple of screws.
In addition, this law includes obligations on the recycling of any type of battery, but also imposes minimum levels of recycled materials with which they must be manufactured in order to sell products with them within the EU.
For example, eight years after the new regulation was approved, the composition of a battery must have the following levels of recycled materials: 16% cobalt, 85% lead, 6% lithium and 6% nickel. Thirteen years later: 26% cobalt, 85% lead, 12% lithium, and 15% nickel.
Everything is aimed at making a highly polluting sector much less so. The batteries will also have to carry labels of their composition and type, among other data to improve their recycling process, although it will also favor the use of third-party batteries instead of official ones.
The new regulations impose that small battery producers have to recover 63% of the amount of batteries they produce by the end of 2027, and 73% by the end of 2023. It also introduces recovery targets for light vehicle batteries of 51 % by the end of 2028 and 61% by the end of 2031. Lithium recovery from discarded batteries will have to be 50% by the end of 2027 and 80% by the end of 2031. Nickel-cadmium batteries will have to have an efficiency recycling rates of 80% and 50% respectively by the end of 2025.
#approves #regulation #requires #mobile #phone #batteries #easily #replaceable