Commission publishes new waste battery recycling calculation rules
The European Commission has published a delegated regulation effective from 24 July 2025, establishing new methodologies for calculating recycling efficiency and material recovery from waste batteries. This regulation, which underpins the EU’s green transition and the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, provides clear guidelines for recyclers handling lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, lithium, and other batteries. It sets specific recycling efficiency targets—75% for lead-acid, 65% for lithium-based, 80% for nickel-cadmium, and 50% for other batteries by December 2025, increasing to 80% for lead-acid and 70% for lithium-based batteries by 2030. In addition, the regulation mandates ambitious material recovery targets for critical raw materials, requiring a 90% recovery for cobalt, copper, lead, and nickel, and 50% for lithium by December 2027, with further increases to 95% and 80% respectively by December 2031. It also establishes harmonised documentation requirements for recyclers reporting to member states, thereby aiming to prevent unfair competition within the EU's secondary raw materials market.