The Commission published new rules on Friday for calculating and verifying recycling efficiency and the recovery of materials from waste batteries.
Batteries play a crucial role in advancing the green transition, supporting sustainable mobility, and contributing to climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules aim to support a circular, resilient and competitive economy by keeping the materials used in batteries in the economy for longer, thus preventing waste.
The objective of these rules is to ensure the high-quality recycling and recovery of materials from waste batteries, particularly those containing critical and strategic raw materials.
They establish clear and consistent calculation guidelines for recyclers, aiming to prevent unfair competition in the EU’s market for secondary raw materials from waste batteries.
The methodology for measuring the recycling efficiency of recyclers, which quantifies the total amount of materials recycled, is established for batteries containing lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, lithium and other materials.
The process for measuring the recovery of materials is specifically established for critical raw materials such as cobalt, copper, lithium and nickel, as well as lead.
To support the consistent application of the calculation rules, a harmonised format for documentation from recyclers to Member States authorities has also been introduced.
Next steps
The newly established methodology will enter into force on 24 July 2025.
Background
The delegated act draws on the JRC report entitled ‘Technical suggestions for the rules for calculation and verification of rates for recycling efficiency and recovery of materials of waste batteries’, prepared with the input of stakeholders.
Annex XII of the Batteries Regulation mandates ambitious targets for the recycling efficiency to be achieved by recyclers no later than 31 December 2025 (75% for lead-acid batteries, 65% for lithium-based batteries, 80% for nickel-cadmium batteries, 50% for other batteries).
The targets will be increased by 31 December 2030 for lead-acid batteries (80%) and lithium-based batteries (70%).
The material recovery targets to be achieved by 31 December 2027 are 90% for cobalt, copper, lead, and nickel and 50% for lithium.
These will be increased by 31 December 2031 to 95% for cobalt, copper, lead, and nickel and 80% for lithium.
More information
Delegated regulation on new waste batteries rules | EUR-Lex page
Details
- Publication date
- 4 July 2025
- Author
- Directorate-General for Environment
