European Regulation 2023/1542 on batteries and battery waste aims to improve the environmental, economic, and social performance of batteries in the European internal market. On August 18, the provisions of this legislation regarding battery waste management came into force, including the following.
Has been reinforced the obligation for companies that place batteries on the national market (producers) to be registered in the SILiAmb computer system of the Portuguese Environment Agency and to ensure the collection and recycling of waste from these batteries through a contract with a battery management entity, such as VALORCAR.
Battery distributors must inform end consumers about the proper disposal and management of battery waste, as well as take back used batteries free of charge without imposing an obligation to purchase new ones.
Recycling operators must ensure compliance with even more stringent battery waste recycling targets, as well as achieving recovery targets for some of the constituent materials, such as lead, cobalt, copper, lithium and nickel.