Battery Directive

Battery Directive

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, commonly known as the Battery Directive, regulates the manufacture and disposal of batteries in the European Union with the aim of "improving the environmental performance of batteries and accumulators". In the 1980s, batteries commonly contained hazardous elements such as mercury, cadmium, and lead, which when incinerated or landfilled, presented a risk to the environment and human health. Directive 91/157/EEC was adopted on 18 March 1991 to reduce these hazards by harmonizing Member States' laws on the disposal and recycling of batteries containing dangerous substances. Directive 2006/66/EC repealed Directive 91/157/EEC and sets maximum quantities for certain chemicals and metals in batteries; tasks Member States with encouraging improvements to the environmental performance of batteries; requires proper waste management of these batteries, including recycling, collections, "take-back" programs, and disposal; sets waste battery collection rates; sets financial responsibility for programs; and makes rules covering most phases of this legislation, including labeling, marking, documentation, reviews, and other administrative and procedural matters.