Article n°15 of the EPR series: How to comply to the EPR French law regarding batteries?

In the previous articles of the EPR series, we already talked about EEE and packaging waste. In this one we will explain how to proceed regarding battery waste.

Who has to comply to the EPR French law regarding batteries?

Producers of battery waste include battery sellers and sellers of electrical or electronical equipment which include batteries.

What type of batteries are we talking about?

The order n°2009-1139 from September 22^nd 2009 changed the French Environmental Code regarding batterie and accumulator policies and the way they should be disposed of once out of order. There are now three categories of batteries on the market:

• Portable batteries: batteries which are bought and used by household an which haven’t an industrial or commercial exclusive purpose due to their format or composition.
• Industrial batteries: batteries with an industrial or professional exclusive purpose.
• Motor-vehicle batteries: batteries used to start an engine or light and ignite a system.

If you are a battery producer, what do you need to do?

As a producer, you will have two possibilities to deal with portable batteries:

1. You will need to register in a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) which manages batterie wastes, collect and recycle them. In this case:

• A number of recycled battery waste will need to be met
• You will need to inform your consumers and raise their awareness regarding recycling, through mutualized tools, such as Infotri in France
• Report periodically to local authorities on the activities being carried out

2. Create and fund an individual system to collect and recycle your own battery waste. It will have to be approved by the Ministry of Environment.

Note: most Chinese companies will have to register for the portable battery category

Ces dernières années l’accent a été mis sur l’aspect environnemental. Il est donc important de faire attention aux nouvelles réglementations environnementales, régulièrement mises en place ou à jours par les gouvernements de l’Union Européenne, dont la France.

In the last years, the European Union has been focusing on environmental policies. This is why it is so important for you to be careful about new policies and their modifications.