Eleven years after its implementation, the Batteries Directive is considered by the European Commission to have delivered positive results in terms of protection of the environment, the promotion of recycling and improved functioning of the internal market for batteries and recycled materials.
But many questions remain; for example, how efficient will the end- of-life management of batteries really be in reducing CO2 emissions? Can recycled materials ever be a competitive source of active battery materials? Will the review address the real concerns of stakeholders posed by the definition of waste and the extended producer responsibility for the second use/life of batteries?
Dr Jean-Pol Wiaux, Chairman of the ICBR Steering Committee comments: “A large majority of OEMs placing batteries on the market have now integrated end-of-life management into their policies. The management at end-of-life of the significant amounts of critical materials placed on the EU market as active battery materials is an ongoing challenge that industry is tackling daily.”
ICBR 2019 is the 24th meeting that will review all of the issues linked to the management of waste batteries, including collection efficiency and material recovery. Discussions and debates with industry specialists on battery material flows and the role of raw materials in terms of demand and recovery will take place in an international context with speakers and experts from all over the world.
Wiaux invites participants to join them in Lyon to develop knowledge of worldwide initiatives on the recycling of end-of-life batteries and their key business operators. “It will provide the ideal environment to develop your networking opportunities among specialists and experts in the field of battery recycling.”
