Brussels, 16/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg next week, the European Parliament will examine the report by the Dutchman Hans Blokland (EDD) on batteries and accumulators. On this first reading in a co-decision procedure, if it follows its environment commission it should strengthen the European Commission's proposal regarding the recycling of these products.
The Blokland report proposes fixing a collection level equivalent to 50% of national battery and portable accumulator sales, rather than the 160 grams per head and per year proposed by the European Commission, a proposal which in practice would represent a rate of 40%. The environment commission considers that it is advisable to express these objectives as a percentage in order to better assess consumption levels, which vary between Member States. The ministers also wish to limit the use of cadmium, lead and mercury in batteries and accumulators, where possible. They are in favour of progressive elimination, the first stage of which would be to ban the sale of batteries and accumulators containing over 5 ppm of mercury, 40 ppm of lead and/or 20 ppm of cadmium. A list of dispensations would be drawn up for cases when these heavy metals are unavoidable due to a lack of alternatives.
Every year, some 800,000 automotive batteries, 190,000 tonnes of industrial batteries and accumulators and 160,000 tonnes of portable products are sold in Europe. With a share of approximately 72% in 2002, non-rechargeable portable batteries and accumulators represent the main constituent of the portable products market.