The UK’s Environment Agency has issued new guidance for handling persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste lead-acid batteries. The guidance only applies to waste automotive, industrial and portable lead-acid batteries.
POPs are included in battery cases containing for example decabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromodiphenyl ether or antimony trioxide. Battery cases made of only polypropene do not contain any POPs. Battery cases made of other plastics – for example acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) – may contain them.
The agency suggests that x-ray fluorescence (XRF) can be used to scan the plastic case for bromine, an indicator of the presence of brominated flame retardants including POPs. However, the operator needs to have adequate training and experience to identify the bromine fractions.
The guidance requires that the recycling companies can treat a waste lead-acid battery containing POPs for the purpose of separating the POP containing plastic case materials for destruction. All POPs plastic material fractions must be sent for destruction at a professional recycling plant. The classification of the plastic fraction is changed by the presence of non-plastic (non-conforming) materials.
It is allowed to destroy plastic containing POPs from waste lead-acid batteries in an R4 lead smelter if the smelter is permitted to accept that waste. You can also show reliable destruction of POPs through an appropriate destruction efficiency assessment, effective from 1 July 2024. Chemically the waste should be monitored for emissions of both chlorinated and brominated dioxins and furans.
Companies must notify the export of lead-acid batteries to destinations outside the UK. Lead-acid batteries must be packed in ABS cases for destruction at an R1 Facility, typically an incinerator or cement kiln or R4 smelter within the EU or EFTA.
