Battery Recycling - Another Waste Crisis?

Traditionally the UK has been heavily reliant on landfill for disposal of its waste. At total of 28.2 million tonnes [79%] of municiple waste was landfilled during 2000 / 2001.  13% was recycled or composted and 8% incinerated with energy recovery . The waste that the UK produces has increased by an average of 4% every year, which is more than the GDP at 2.5%, thus giving the UK the fastest growth rate in Europe for producing waste. [Waste Management April 2003]

Waste Strategy 2000 states that municiple waste is trailing behind in terms of recycling and recovery with approx 60% of municiple waste been bio-gradeable and therefore a major contributor  to the green house effect.   

Following recent measures to deal with scrap cars End of Life Vehicles ELV Directive 2000 / 53 / EC and the WEEE Directive 2002 / 96 / EC the European Commission has turned their attention to “spent” batteries, and early indications point towards another environmental headache for industry to deal with.

The draft Directive aims to maximise the separate collection and recycling of spent batteries and accumulators from the Municiple waste stream. This aspiration should be consistent with the UK Government sustainable development and waste strategies in the future. With the UK Governments strategy to build more housing estates it is a well known fact [ in certain situations] for housing development companies to build on previous landfill sites rather than focus on more urban regeneration.

In 2004 the Government’s the new Landfill Directive Regulation 9 has now closed down 92% of the co-landfill sites with only 14 sites  in the UK to accept special and hazardous waste [Lets Recycle.com 2003] . Surely, this must be a warning to encourage the consumer to refurbish, recycle and reuse ?

Does this mean the latest Directive to be espoused from the EU is long overdue ?

There are four main reasons for collecting any type of waste material. Batteries are just one example.

1] The waste contains valuable materials for reuse.
2] The waste contains hazardous materials
3] The need to minimise the loss of resources
4] The need to minimise the impact on waste disposal.

After all the majority of leading Member EU States are well ahead of the UK on the collection of batteries with a good infrastructure to cope with kerbside collections,

These are SAFT-NIFE and BATREC in Sweden, BIBAT in Holland, CollectNicad, Brussels / Belgium, GRS Batterien Germany, Screlec France are just a few examples with collection and recovery rates above 50% [EPBA 2003] participation from Local Authorities or Municiple Amenity Sites with the participation of schools to encourage recycling at an early age.

In 2001 the average household used approx 21 batteries per year or 680 million, which account for only a small percentage of the total weight. The UK generates 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes of used batteries and cells with less than 1000 tons [5%] recycled every year. [wasteonline.org.uk 2005]

Whilst the chemical structure varies from battery type whether primary [non –rechargable] or secondary [rechargeable] most batteries contain heavy metals, which are the cause for environmental concern. When disposed of incorrectly, these heavy metals ‘leach’ and pollute the soil and water when the battery casing and cells corrodes.

This can contribute to soil and water pollution and endanger wildlife. Cadmium, for example can be toxic to aquatic life invertebrates and can bio-accumulate in fish, which makes them unfit for human consumption.  It has been claimed that lungs, kidneys and prostate will be affected. Zinc for instance is not toxic to humans in low concentrations however, it has been identified as ‘phytotoxic’ which means that it affects plants aswell as aquatic organism, which can have an indirect effect on humans. Other toxic metals that are of future concern are silver, and manganese.

Bulking of the “spent cells” from the power tool batteries includes other types of batteries that cannot be refurbished. For example, two way radio batteries used by the Police Force, Security Companies and scanner batteries used by high street retailers etc.

On 20th December 2004 the EU Council of Ministers reached a political agreement on the new Battery Directive Statutory Instrument 2001 no 2551 which supersedes by adapting to technical progress the Battery & Accumulators Directive 91 / 157 / EEC will have strict recovery targets by weight that Local Authorities will need to recycle.

Collection targets are not very clear and some confusion does exist for spent portable batteries, however, as a rule of thumb 25% of average annual sales four years after the Directive is implemented in the UK rising to 45% after eight years which is equal to 11,250 tons.

 The WEEE Directive applies to all electronic and electrical goods including portable battery powered products which are used in the home, office, and place of work.

There are only two main competitors in the UK for battery recycling, who only offer the customer a “half – way house” acting as a Broker. To comply fully with the WEEE Directive the business needs to offer the customer further recycling treatment in order to gain a competitive advantage. This “offer” of further treatment and recycling is a positive process for the customer, particularly for E M A S in tracking waste stream materials.

How can this be achieved?

At present the process involves the battery pack been crushed abroad and the cells separated from the plastic casings.

REBATT has recognised this shortfall in what recycling should mean. ALL component parts need to be recovered [reclaimed] and all waste materials need to be recycled. We are conducting Research and Development with two Companies to identify a process that can separate the plastic casings from the cells without damage [puncturing of the cells].

This new process is necessary to reduce the waste management problems we are confronted with today which are linked to the heavy metals and flame retardants found in WEEE products which are either mains driven or battery powered.

The equipment will separate the cells, plastics and valuable materials for further treatment and recycling. Current prices for granulated ABS Plastic [March 2005] which is contaminate free is valued on the market at approx £100 per ton for reuse with virgin polymers. Two years ago the value of abs plastic was considerably lower than current value.

The same equipment can be used to separate small WEEE Products items Number 2 and 6 for the removal of the heavy metals, flame retardants and batteries which are used to power the products. Full separation and recovery of waste stream materials will comply fully with the WEEE Directive requirements. 

Manufacturer’s would need to consider “The Restriction of Use” on certain Hazardous Substances found in Electronic Equipment [RoHS] which is linked to the heavy metals concerned and the flame retardants found in current disposal routes is going to have a dramatic effect on businesses when transferred into UK and European Law by July/August  2006.

The content of mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium VI, PBNB and PBDE when exposed to the environment through current disposal routes would be likely to present risks to health and the environment until the chemicals and substances that pose risks are substituted with safer materials.

Even when the technical, and economic feasibility is taken into account the recycling of WEEE products and the safe substitution is the way forward when looking for long term sustainability.

Restricting the use of these hazardous substances during the manufacturing process will enhance the possibilities and economic profitability of recycling WEEE products and batteries by decreasing the negative health impact on people and the environment.