Subsidiary Legislation 549.54 – the Waste Management (Waste Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations as published by Legal Notice 55 of 2010 brings into effect most of the provisions of Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators. These Regulations seek to improve the environmental performance of batteries and accumulators, by maximising the separate collection of waste batteries and accumulators and achieving a high level of recycling for all waste batteries and accumulators as well as to improve the performance of the activities of all economic operators, in particular producers and recycling facilities. Furthermore, these Regulations aim to ensure the smooth functioning of the internal market and avoid distortion of competition within the European Union.
The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations apply to all types of batteries and accumulators irrespective of their shape, volume, weight, material composition or use, and applies also to those batteries incorporated in electrical and electronic equipment, as well as those accumulators incorporated in end of life vehicles.
A battery or accumulator can be of the following types:
- Portable;
- Automotive;
- Industrial
These Regulations set out national targets for the collection and recycling of waste batteries and accumulators, while emphasising on the optimization of collection and recycling practices in order to minimize costs and the negative impacts on the environment.
Producers of batteries and accumulators are required to provide for the financing of collection and treatment of waste batteries and accumulators. Such producers may wish to fulfil their obligations either individually or by participating in a waste batteries and accumulators compliance scheme.
For further details on the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations, refer to FAQs.
For further information related to registration and renewals with the Authority as well as guidance for self-compliant producers and producer responsibility organisations [click here]