Batteries Regulations

European Union (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations 2014 in Ireland promote the recovery of waste batteries, imposing obligations and declaration responsibilities on all producers and importers of batteries.

The Regulations cover 3 types of batteries:

• Portable batteries - used in household appliances, toys, mobile phones, remote controls, etc. including button cells used in cameras, watches, etc.
• Industrial batteries - used in forklift trucks, other electric vehicles and golf buggies
• Automotive batteries - ignition/starter batteries in cars, vans, trucks and boats

Businesses that manufacture, produce, import and sell batteries are considered battery producers and have certain obligations, including but not limited to:

• Registering with the Producer Register
• Declaring the quantities of EEE that are placed on the market to the WEEE Blackbox
• Join one of the compliance schemes - WEEE Ireland or ERP, although self-compliance is also possible
• Displaying the crossed-out wheeled bin and chemical symbols on the batteries

If your business imports/sells products that contain batteries, it is considered a Battery Producer. Retailers who sell batteries must provide free take-back of batteries to consumers.

The competent agency in Ireland is the Environmental Protection Agency, and detailed information about the WEEE Regulations can be found on their web-site.

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