A series of major fires at waste recycling facilities has led Germany’s lawmakers to investigate the introduction of a compulsory deposit return scheme for lithium-ion batteries.
The proposal, by Germany’s federal association for disposal, water and raw materials management (BDE), is initially focused on halting the disposal of batteries in discarded toys and electronic devices— but could include electric bikes and cars, BEST Battery Briefing(BBB) understands.
BDE will consult companies and industry bodies to decide how deposits should be calculated and how the scheme could be enforced, a company spokesperson told BBB.
However, industry sources have told BBB a levy of around €25 (US$28) could be added to the cost of e-bike batteries, to be returned to the purchaser when the battery is given up for recycling.
BDE president Peter Kurth said: “The situation is getting worse. Not a week goes by without waste disposal vehicles, depots or sorting facilities burning somewhere in Germany because lithium batteries were not properly disposed of.”
Kurth said existing legislation covering the manufacture and sale of electrical equipment could be amended to legislate for a deposit return scheme.
He said staff at recycling facilities needed extra training to spot and deal with batteries that had been incorrectly thrown away. A public information campaign about the dangers of the improper disposal of lithium batteries was also needed.
But Kurth said companies involved in the recycling and waste management industry should not be left to tackle “this serious challenge” alone. “All those responsible must contribute to curbing this danger.”
Data from EU statistical office, Eurostat, indicates that around 21,000 tonnes of waste primary/portable batteries were collected in Germany in 2017— less than half of the amount sold.
Last year, BBB revealed the findings of a damming report, which said more than half of Europe’s used lithium-ion batteries “disappear” without proper treatment because of “outdated” recycling rules and inadequate targets for collecting them.
