Collection and recycling of waste batteries - Estonian Experience TAIEX workshop, November, 2013, Kiev Peeter Eek Waste Department, Ministry of the Environment of Estonia

Legislative framework Transposing EU Battries Directive 2006/66 1. Waste Act (definition of producer and product of concern, general obligations for producer, general requirements for waste handling); 2. Regulation of Government No. 135, (Register of Product of Concern and registration of producers) (replaces the Regulation of Government No. 28, ); 3. Regulation of Minister of Environment No. 5, (requirements for treatment of batteries); 4. Regulation of Minister of Environment No. 64, (requirements for labelling batteries);

Legislative framework Transposing EU Batteries Directive 2006/66 5. Regulation of Government No. 124, (requirements for collection and returning the batteries, collection rates and targets for recycling and recovery, deadlines for achievement of rates and targets); 6. Regulation of Minister of Environment No. 12, (registration and reporting forms for Register of Products of Concern); 7. Regulation of Minister of Environment No. 30, (restricted hazardous substances and exemptions); 8. Regulation of Minister of Environment No. 57, (information fo users and requirements for public information campaigns).

Main definitions, I Producer of batteries and accumulators is a person who regardless of the method of sale manufactures batteries or accumulators or imports them into Estonia on the professional basis. Producer is not a person who finances under or pursuant to any finance agreement unless person also acts as a producer. Retailer is a person who provides batteries and accumulators on a commercial basis to the party who going to use it. Economic operator is producer, collector, recycler or other treatment operator.

Main Definitions, II Product of concern is a product the waste resulting from which causes or may cause health or environmental hazards, environmental nuisances or excessive pollution of environment. Products of concern are batteries and accumulators, motor vehicles and their parts, tyres and electrical and electronic equipments (EEE) and their parts and agricultural plastics.

Main Definitions, III Battery or accumulator means a source of electrical energy generated by direct conversion of chemical energy and consisting of one or more non-rechargeable batteries or rechargeable cells. Portable battery or accumulator means any battery, button cell, battery pack or accumulator that is sealed, can be hand-carried, is neither an industrial battery or accumulator nor an automotive battery or accumulator..

Main Definitions, IV Automotive battery or accumulator means any battery or accumulator used for automotive starter, lighting or ignition power. Industrial battery or accumulator means any battery or accumulator designed for exclusively industrial or professional uses or used in any type of electric vehicle.

Main Definitions, V Place on the market: according to Estonian law product is placed on the Estonian market if that product is made available for the first time for the purpose of distribution or putting it into service (made available for the third parties). Putting it into service means an activity which involves the use of product for the first time for its intended purpose. If imported, then after that when all procedures related with Customs are done (filled declarations etc.) and it is possible to start to sell or use it. If product is just in bonded warehouse, then that product is not placed on the market yet.

Registrations Producer has requirement to register in Register of Product of Concern ( and introduce data according to the Regulation of Government (2009). Requirement to register entered into force on February With the Register of Product of Concern must register all producers, who place batteries or accumulators on the Estonian market.

Registration, II There is 2 ways to submit application (and later reports): 1) through Internet or 2) digitally signed file via (possible only for persons having Estonian ID-card). There is no fee for registration and any other annual fee.

Registration, III For registration producer must: 1) deliver data which kind of brands he represents, 2) give affirmation about (financial) guarantee and affirmation that products do not contain certain restricted hazardous substances, 3) description of public information campaigns (for users of batteries) and 4) waste management plan in which he describes how he collects waste batteries and accumulators and handles waste onward. Producer must also report amounts how much batteries and accumulators he manufactures, imports and/or place on the Estonian market. Data should be introduced quarterly. Producer also has to introduce every year waste report and it has to be introduced quarterly as well.

Registration, IV In Register can only register these producers who have registered in Estonian Central Commercial Register. If producer is located permanently outside Estonia, then he can not register directly in Register. Producer has 3 options: 1) found a branch office or subsidiary in Estonia or 2) be a member of some appropriate collective schemes or 3) appoint authorised representative.

Sharing of Costs In Estonia, there is no Clearing House System. Producers have to divide the costs themselves and communicate with each other. For example if someone has collected more waste batteries than he place on the market, then it means that someone collected less than his/her market share is. Producer who collected more, might present a bill for payment to that one, which collected less. If they do not get an agreement, then the Court solves the problem.

Collection rate and recycling targets Collection rate – means, in a given calendar year, the percentage obtained by dividing the weight of waste batteries and accumulators collected in that calendar year by the average weight of batteries and accumulators that producers either sell directly to consumer or deliver to third parties in order to sell them to consumers during that calendar year and the preceding two calendar years.

Collection rate Collection rate for waste portable batteries and accumulators which producer needs to achieve are: 1) at least 25% by 26 September 2012 and 2) at least 45% by 26 September Collection rates for automotive batteries and accumulators which producer needs to achieve are: 1) at least 75% by 26 September 2012 and 2) at least 90% by 26 September 2016.

Recycling rates Economic operator shall achieve the following minimum recycling efficiencies: 1) recycling of 65% by average weight of lead-acid batteries and accumulators, including recycling of the lead content to the highest degree that is technically feasible while avoiding excessive costs; 2) recycling of 75% by average weight of nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators, including recycling of the cadmium content to the highest degree that is technically feasible while avoiding excessive costs; and 3) recycling of 50% by average weight of other waste batteries and accumulators.

Information and Information campaigns In every point of sale portable or automotive batteries and accumulators should be a sign informing, that into the same place could be returned waste batteries and accumulators. If there is container for batteries and accumulators and consumer can see it, when enters to the point of sale, then the sign is not needed.

Information and Information campaigns At least once in a year producer has to make public information campaign through different media channels like TV, radio, regional newspapers or outdoor media. Through information campaigns producer has to inform consumers of batteries and accumulators: 1) the potential effects on the environment and human health of the substances used in batteries and accumulators; 2) the desirability of not disposing of waste batteries and accumulators as unsorted municipal waste and of participating in their separate collection so as to facilitate treatment and recycling; 3) the collection and recycling schemes available to them;

Information and Information campaigns 4) their role in contributing to the recycling of waste batteries and accumulators; 5) the meaning of the symbol of the crossed-out wheeled bin and the chemical symbols Hg, Cd and Pb. Producers can organise common information campaigns for saving costs. Obligation of information campaigns entered into force in 1 January 2009.

Requirements for labelling All batteries and accumulators placed on the market have to be marked with the symbol of separate collection mark. Producer has to ensure that all batteries and accumulators placed on the market are marked with the chemical symbol Hg, if battery, accumulator or button cell contains more than 0,0005% mercury; with the symbol Cd, if battery, accumulator or button cell contains more than 0,002% cadmium; with the symbol Pb, if battery, accumulator or button cell contains more than 0,004% lead. All marks mentioned above have to be printed visibly, legibly and indelibly.

Requirements for treatment facility and storage place For treatment facilities and storage places (including temporary) are provided general requirements: Treatment facility and storage place should have impermeable surface and weatherproof covering besides general requirements for treatment facilities and storage places provided by Waste Act. Waste batteries and accumulators can storaged also in suitable containers. Suitable container is closed container which is weatherproof, impermeable, acid-proof and from where third persons cannot take the batteries out without using special tools or breaking the container.

Thank for Your attention!