Commission Regulation (EU) No 493/2012

law://eu/reg/2012/493@2026-11-13

Contents

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators and repealing Directive 91/157/EEC^note, and in particular Article 12(6)(a) thereof,Whereas:

(1)Recycling processes which, as part of a sequence or as standalone processes, recycle waste lead-acid, nickel-cadmium and other batteries and accumulators should achieve the minimum recycling efficiencies set out in Annex III, Part B to Directive 2006/66/EC.

(2)Detailed rules supplementing Annex III, Part B to Directive 2006/66/EC should be laid down for calculating recycling efficiencies.

(3)It is appropriate to define the recycling process as one which starts after collection and possible sorting and/or preparation for recycling of the waste batteries and accumulators received by a recycling facility and finishes when output fractions are produced to be used for their original purpose or for other purposes without undergoing further treatment and have ceased to be waste. In order to encourage the improvement of existing and development of new recycling and treatment technologies, the recycling efficiencies should be achieved by each recycling process.

(4)It is necessary to define the preparation for recycling as a preliminary operation prior to recycling in order to distinguish it from the recycling process of waste batteries and accumulators.

(5)The recycling efficiencies of the recycling processes of waste batteries and accumulators should be calculated by reference to the chemical composition of the input and output fractions and having regard to the latest technical and scientific developments and made publicly available.

(6)It is necessary to harmonise the information to be reported by recyclers in order to monitor compliance with the recycling efficiency requirements across the European Union.

(7)Recyclers of waste batteries and accumulators need at least 18 months to adapt their technological processes to the new recycling efficiencies calculation requirements.

(8)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 39 of Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council^note,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1Scope#

This Regulation shall apply to the recycling processes carried out to waste batteries and accumulators from 1 January 2014.

Article 2Definitions#

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)‘recycling process’ means any reprocessing operation as referred to in Article 3(8) of Directive 2006/66/EC which is carried out on waste lead-acid, nickel-cadmium and other batteries and accumulators and results in the production of output fractions as defined in point 5 of this Article. The recycling process does not include sorting and/or preparation for recycling/disposal and may be carried out in a single facility or in several facilities;

(2)‘preparation for recycling’ means treatment of waste batteries and/or accumulators prior to any recycling process, which shall, inter alia, include storage, handling, dismantling of battery packs or separation of fractions that are not part of the battery or accumulator itself;

(3)‘recycling efficiency’ of a recycling process means the ratio obtained by dividing the mass of output fractions accounting for recycling by the mass of the waste batteries and accumulators input fraction expressed as a percentage;

(4)‘input fraction’ means the mass of collected waste batteries and accumulators entering the recycling process as defined in Annex I;

(5)‘output fraction’ means the mass of materials that are produced from the input fraction as a result of the recycling process, as defined in Annex I without undergoing further treatment, that have ceased to be waste or that will be used for their original purpose or for other purposes, but excluding energy recovery.

Article 3Calculation of recycling efficiency#

1.The method set out in Annex I shall be used to calculate the recycling efficiency of a process for recycling waste lead-acid, nickel-cadmium and other batteries and accumulators.

2.The method set out in Annex II shall be used to calculate the rate of recycled lead content for any recycling process.

3.The method set out in Annex III shall be used to calculate the rate of recycled cadmium content for any recycling process.

4.Recyclers shall report the information shown in Annex IV, Annex V and Annex VI, as applicable, on an annual basis and shall send it to the Member State’s competent authorities by no later than four months from the end of a calendar year concerned. Recyclers shall send their first annual reports no later than the 30 April 2015.

5.Reporting on the recycling efficiency shall cover all individual steps of recycling and all corresponding output fractions.

6.Where a recycling process is carried out at more than one facility, the first recycler is responsible for submitting the information required under point 4 to the Member State’s competent authorities.

Article 4Entry into force#

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Annex I

Method for the calculation of the recycling efficiency of the recycling process of waste batteries and accumulators

1.The recycling efficiency of a recycling process is calculated as follows:RE = Σ moutputminput × 100, [mass %]where:R_Ecalculated recycling efficiency of a recycling process for the purpose of Article 12(4) of Directive 2006/66/EC [in mass %];m_outputthe mass of output fractions accounting for recycling per calendar year;m_inputthe mass of input fractions entering the battery recycling process per calendar year.

2.The recycling efficiency of a recycling process is calculated separately for the following waste battery types:

—lead-acid batteries and accumulators,

—nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators, and

—other batteries and accumulators.

3.The recycling efficiency is calculated on the basis of the overall chemical composition (at elemental/compound level) of the input and output fractions. The following applies in respect of the input fraction:

—recyclers shall determine the share of different types of waste battery or accumulator present in an input fraction by conducting a sorting analysis of the fraction (by continuous or representative sampling),

—the chemical composition of each type of waste battery or accumulator present in the input fraction is determined on the basis of the chemical composition of new batteries and accumulators when placed on the market or on the basis of available data of recyclers or on information provided by the battery producers,

—recyclers shall determine the overall chemical composition of the input fraction by applying the chemical composition analysis to the types of batteries or accumulators present in the input fraction.

4.Emissions to the atmosphere are not accounted for the recycling efficiency.

5.The mass of output fractions accounting for recycling is the mass, on a dry weight basis, of the elements or compounds contained in fractions resulting from the recycling of waste batteries and accumulators per calendar year [in tonnes]. The following may be, inter alia, accounted for output fractions:

—the carbon which is actually used as a reducing agent or which is a component of an output fraction of the recycling process, if it results from the input waste batteries and accumulators, on the condition that it is certified by an independent scientific authority and made publicly available. The carbon which is used for energy recovery is not accounted for the recycling efficiency,

—the oxygen, used as an oxidising agent, if it results from the input waste batteries and accumulators and if it is a component of an output fraction of the recycling process. The oxygen coming from the atmosphere is not accounted for the recycling efficiency,

—battery and accumulator materials contained in slag suitable and used for recycling purposes as defined in Article 3(8) of Directive 2006/66/EC other than landfill construction or backfilling operations, provided that this is in line with national requirements.

6.The mass of input fractions entering the battery recycling process is the mass of collected waste batteries and accumulators on a dry weight basis entering the recycling process per calendar year [in tonnes], including:

—fluids and acids,

—the mass of outer casings belonging to battery packs.

—the mass of external jacket of waste batteries and accumulators,

and excluding:

Annex II

Method for the calculation of the rate of recycled lead content

1.The rate of recycled lead content is calculated as follows:RPb = Σ mPb outputmPb input × 100, [mass %]where:R_Pbcalculated rate of recycled lead (Pb) from a recycling process for the purpose of Article 12(4) of Directive 2006/66/EC [in mass %];m_{Pb output}the mass of Pb in output fractions accounting for recycling is the share of Pb contained in these fractions which results from the recycling of lead-acid batteries and accumulators per calendar year [in tonnes];m_{Pb input}the mass of Pb in the input fraction entering the battery recycling process is defined as the yearly average Pb content of waste lead-acid batteries and accumulators multiplied by the input mass of lead-acid batteries and accumulators per calendar year [in tonnes].

2.In the output fraction the lead (Pb) contained in slag at the end of the recycling process is not accounted for the rate of recycled lead content.

III

Method for the calculation of the rate of recycled cadmium content

1.The rate of recycled cadmium content is calculated as follows:RCd = Σ mCd outputmCd input × 100, [mass %]where:R_Cdcalculated rate of recycled cadmium (Cd) from a recycling process for the purpose of Article 12(4) of Directive 2006/66/EC [in mass %];m_{Cd output}the mass of Cd in output fractions accounting for recycling is the share of Cd contained in these fractions which results from the recycling of nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators per calendar year [in tonnes].m_{Cd input}the mass of Cd in the input fraction entering the battery recycling process is defined as the yearly average Cd content of waste nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators multiplied by the input mass of nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators per calendar year [in tonnes].

2.In the output fraction the cadmium (Cd) contained in slag at the end of the recycling process is not accounted for the rate of recycled cadmium content.

Annex IV

Reporting on recycling efficiencies for lead-acid batteries and accumulators

1.For lead-acid batteries and accumulators input into the recycling process the following information shall be reported:Calendar year | |FacilityName |Street |City |Country |Contact person |E-mail |Tel. |Description of the complete battery recycling process:Description of waste batteries and accumulators | EWC code(optional) | Mass | Overall composition of input | minputt/a | Element or compound | mass % | [t/a]| || | | Elements or components, which are not part of the input fractions| || Impurities | |Outer casing of battery pack |Water (H2O) |Other |Elements or components, which are part of the input fractionsLead (Pb) | |Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) | |Plastics | |Other | || || |minput, total | ||moutput, Pb |moutput, total |Recycling efficiency (RE): | moutput/minput | | mass %Degree of recycled Pb (RPb): | mPb output/mPb input | | mass %

2.For the individual steps of the recycling process of lead-acid batteries and accumulators the following information shall be reported:Process step | 1Calendar year | |FacilityName |Street |City |Country |Contact person |E-mail |Tel. |Description of the individual process step:Description of input | EWC code(optional) | Mass |t/a| || || |(1) Intermediate fractionsDescription of fraction | EWC code(optional) | Mass | Further treatment | Recipient | Further process stept/a | Name || | | | | 1_1| | | | | 1_2| | | | | 1_3| | | | | 1_4| | | | | 1_5| | | | | 1_6| | | | | 1_7| | | | | 1_8| | | | | 1_9| | | | | 1_10(2) Final output fractions accounting for recyclingElement or compound | Fraction (non-waste) containing the element or compound | Concentration of the element or compound in the fraction | Mass of the element or compound, which results from batteries input | Fate of the fractionmass % | t/a| | | || | | || moutput, Pb | |moutput, total |

Annex V

Reporting on recycling efficiencies for nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators

1.For nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators input into the recycling process the following information shall be reported:Calendar year | |FacilityName |Street |City |Country |Contact person |E-mail |Tel. |Description of the complete battery recycling process:Description of waste batteries and accumulators | EWC code(optional) | Mass | Overall composition of input | minputt/a | Element or compound | mass % | [t/a]| || | | Elements or components, which are not part of the input fractions| || Impurities | |Outer casing of battery pack |Water (H2O) |Other |Elements or components, which are part of the input fractionsCadmium (Cd) | |Nickel (Ni) | |Iron (Fe) | |Plastics | |Electrolyte | || |minput, total | ||moutput, Cd |moutput, total |Recycling efficiency (RE): | moutput/minput | | mass %Degree of recycled Cd (RCd): | mCd output/mCd input | | mass %

2.For the individual steps of the recycling process of nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators the following information shall be reported:Process step | 1Calendar year | |FacilityName |Street |City |Country |Contact person |E-mail |Tel. |Description of the individual process step:Description of input | EWC code(optional) | Mass |T/a| |(1) Intermediate fractionsDescription of fraction | EWC code(optional) | Mass | Further treatment | Recipient | Further process stept/a | Name || | | | | 1_1| | | | | 1_2| | | | | 1_3| | | | | 1_4| | | | | 1_5| | | | | 1_6| | | | | 1_7| | | | | 1_8| | | | | 1_9| | | | | 1_10(2) Final output fractions accounting for recyclingElement or compound | Fraction (non-waste) containing the element or compound | Concentration of the element or compound in the fraction | Mass of the element or compound, which results from batteries input | Fate of the fractionmass % | t/a| | | || | | || moutput, Cd | |moutput, total |

Annex VI

Reporting on recycling efficiencies for other batteries and accumulators

1.For other batteries and accumulators input into the recycling process the following information shall be reported:Calendar year | |FacilityName |Street |City |Country |Contact person |E-mail |Tel. |Description of the complete battery recycling process:Description of waste batteries and accumulators | EWC code(optional) | Mass | Overall composition of input | minputt/a | Element or compound | mass % | [t/a]| || | | Elements or components, which are not part of the input fractions| || Impurities | |Outer casing of battery pack |Water (H2O) |Other |Elements or components, which are part of the input fractionsMetals (e.g. Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Co, Li, Ag, Cu, Al) | |Mercury (Hg) | |Carbon | |Plastics | |Electrolyte | || |minput, total | ||moutput, total |Recycling efficiency (RE): | moutput/minput | | mass %

2.For the individual steps of the recycling process of other batteries and accumulators the following information shall be reported:Process step | 1Calendar year | |FacilityName |Street |City |Country |Contact person |E-mail |Tel. |Description of the individual process step:Description of input | EWC code(optional) | Mass |t/a| |(1) Intermediate fractionsDescription of fraction | EWC code(optional) | Mass | Further treatment | Recipient | Further process stept/a | Name || | | | | 1_1| | | | | 1_2| | | | | 1_3| | | | | 1_4| | | | | 1_5| | | | | 1_6| | | | | 1_7| | | | | 1_8| | | | | 1_9| | | | | 1_10(2) Final output fractions accounting for recyclingElement or compound | Fraction (non-waste) containing the element or compound | Concentration of the element or compound in the fraction | Mass of the element or compound, which results from batteries input | Fate of the fractionmass % | t/a| | | || | | || moutput, total | |

Commission Regulation (EU) No 493/2012

Commission Regulation (EU) No 493/2012

Article 1Scope#

Article 2Definitions#

Article 3Calculation of recycling efficiency#

Article 4Entry into force#

Annex I

Method for the calculation of the recycling efficiency of the recycling process of waste batteries and accumulators

Annex II

Method for the calculation of the rate of recycled lead content

III

Method for the calculation of the rate of recycled cadmium content

Annex IV

Reporting on recycling efficiencies for lead-acid batteries and accumulators

Annex V

Reporting on recycling efficiencies for nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators

Annex VI

Reporting on recycling efficiencies for other batteries and accumulators

Defined terms · 4

Key facts

Connections

History · 2 versions

Article 1Scope#

Article 2Definitions#

Article 3Calculation of recycling efficiency#

Article 4Entry into force#

Annex I

Method for the calculation of the recycling efficiency of the recycling process of waste batteries and accumulators

Annex II

Method for the calculation of the rate of recycled lead content

III

Method for the calculation of the rate of recycled cadmium content

Annex IV

Reporting on recycling efficiencies for lead-acid batteries and accumulators

Annex V

Reporting on recycling efficiencies for nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators

Annex VI

Reporting on recycling efficiencies for other batteries and accumulators