Battery recycling

Under battery recycling ( also Batterierezyklierung ), the material recycling of batteries and accumulators for the recovery of the elements contained in it, such as lead, cadmium or zinc understood. For used batteries is by law a duty of return for consumers and a take-back obligation for trade, public waste carriers, manufacturers and importers.

• 2.1 Legal framework
• 2.2 Organisation
• 2.3 Response Rates

• 3.1 Legal framework
• 3.2 Organisation and return rates

• 4.1 Legal framework
• 4.2 Organisation
• 4.3 Response Rates
• 4.4 Informing the population

• 5.1 France
• 5.2 United Kingdom
• 5.3 Sweden 5.3.1 organization
• 5.3.2 Response Rates
• 5.3.3 Informing the population

• 6.1 zinc carbon, zinc air and alkaline manganese batteries
• 6.2 Nickel-cadmium storage batteries
• 6.3 Nickel - metal hydride storage batteries
• 6.4 lithium batteries and rechargeable batteries

• 8.1 Germany
• 8.2 Switzerland
• 8.3 Sweden

Situation in the European Union

The EU has been writing since 2012 before a return rate of 25%. This is raised in 2016 to 45%.

Legal framework

The European Union has issued several directives on battery recycling since 1991. The first RL 91/157/EEC on hazardous substances contained batteries and accumulators is now suspended. The RL 93/86/EEC of 4 October 1993 was the adaptation of the RL 91/157/EEC to technical progress. Currently, the RL 2006/66/EC in force, as amended by Directive 2008/12/EC of 11 March 2008; it is to be implemented by September 26, 2008 into national law.

Situation in Germany

Legal framework

In Germany, the battery recycling is regulated by the Battery Act.

Organization

In Germany, any retail outlet that sells batteries, take back this also.

An important site of the battery recycling is the world's largest sorting for recycling batteries UNI- CYC GmbH in Bremerhaven. Here, the so-called SORBAREC X-ray method guarantees reached by any other method speed and precision in the sort. Next is the Redux in Bremerhaven, one of the largest battery recycling companies in Europe. It processes more than 7,000 tons of spent batteries per year (as of 7 February 2011). Since the beginning of February 2011, the Redux holds the majority of shares of Uni- CYC GmbH.

Return rates

About 14,500 tonnes of used batteries were collected in 2010 by the Foundation Common battery return system. The new battery law ( June 2009 ) provides in September 2012 before a binding collection rate of 35%.

The situation is different for starter batteries. Who buys a new starter battery, must pay € 7.50 deposit, if he does not return the old battery. Therefore, almost 100 percent of lead-acid batteries are collected in Germany and recycled.

Situation in Austria

Legal framework

Since 1990 there is a battery regulation on Waste Management Act; it has been changed three times. In addition, there is the Waste Treatment Obligations Regulation, detailed rules on the treatment of waste batteries are included in the.

Organization and response rates

In Austria there is a nationwide collection system. For the organization and execution was Umweltforum batteries ( UFB ) founded in 1989 as the Association of Austrian batteries importers and manufacturers. The batteries can be submitted to the trade or the hazardous waste collection points.

Austria's first battery recycling plant for zinc - carbon and alkaline - manganese batteries with a capacity of 3000 t was taken on 13 April 2000 in Vienna on the premises of the Vienna district heating on the Simmer Haide in operation. Button cells are taken to a recycling plant to Germany and batteries to recycling plants in Sweden, France and Germany.

Situation in Switzerland

Legal framework

In Switzerland, the battery recycling is regulated by the Annex 4.10 of the Ordinance on environmentally hazardous substances, material regulation StoV.

Organization

The return is thanks to the advance disposal fee (VEG ) for free. Swiss citizens are by law obliged to duly return the batteries, sellers take them back. With the VEG of the entire disposal process, ie the collection of batteries, the transport to the recycling plant, reprocessing of recyclable materials as well as the education of the population is funded, the fee depends on the weight of the battery. The VEG was introduced on 1 April 2001, the scheme subject Initially, all household batteries, or batteries weighing up to 5 kg. To increase the response rate further, the levy since January 1, 2012 will be payable on all battery types. On behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN private law cooperative interest Batterieentsorgung INOBAT cares for the environment -friendly disposal. The batteries are recycled in the global Batrec Industrie AG in Brodhüsi BE. According to her own account she has " developed as the world's only company a system that both the dangerous toxins from spent batteries and metallic substances contained in a closed circuit fully isolated and converts them into new products."

Batteries are indeed increasingly used in Switzerland, but dankdem these are getting lighter and more powerful and tend to consume modern appliances less power, the overall weight is currently stable at around 3,500 tons per year, a few years ago, this figure was 3,800 tons per year, so fallen since.

Return rates

In Switzerland, 73% of used batteries already be made and recycled again. The FOEN sets a target of 80%. These values ​​are compared to the EU countries high, but the rate has declined slightly in recent years, so in 2009 a maximum of 71% of all batteries were returned, 2010 or 69 % ( see table). One possible explanation for the INOBAT indicates that a decline through new technologies can as lithium ion batteries produced. Since these are rechargeable, they come after several hundred responses back into the recycling process. The paragraph as well as the return rises over a longer period continuously on.

Information to the public

To educate the public about the consequences of careless disposal of batteries and to "educate" the correct disposal to them, the INOBAT has the Battery -Man invented. With commercials, a tour bus, which traveled to Switzerland and a site of the Battery -Man brings the population closer to the battery recycling, if the Swiss return rates are considered, with good success.

Situation in other countries

France

In France there is a battery recycling law since May 12, 1999. In 2002, 16% of batteries were collected.

United Kingdom

The battery return England limped to 2009, with just 2 % behind the rest of Europe. 2012 made ​​it the Englishman then to a response rate of 32%.

Lead-acid batteries ( car batteries) and button cells are completely recycled in the UK, lithium and alkaline batteries partially. All other types are given to foreign countries (as of October 2012).

Sweden

Organization

Sweden already exist since 1970, programs for the collection of batteries, so that the country is a pioneer in battery recycling. There are Stiftelsen Insam Ling av Miljofarliga Batterier SIMBA, the Swedish Foundation, which is responsible for the collection of batteries. Today, the municipalities are responsible for battery recycling. The Swedish Society for Nature Protection Agency has given them the task.

Batteries that contain mercury are sent to SAKAB. The costs are borne by the battery Fund, which is supported by fees that have to be paid importers and manufacturers of mercury-containing batteries. " Returbatt AB / Boliden Bergsoe " is responsible for the collection and recycling of batteries from the retail sector.

Return rates

As indicated in the report 5753 of November 2007, the above-mentioned EU guidelines for battery recycling very low for Sweden.

Information to the public

• From 1987 to 1993, the first nationwide campaign took place, which informed the public about the importance of the collection and recycling of batteries. The campaign was the Association of Swedish local authorities, the Swedish Association of Waste Management and SAKAB and Uppsala Energi been launched by the Swedish Society for Nature Protection Authority ( EPA). The campaign promoted the establishment of SIMBA and in 1997 the project for the collection of batteries ( BCP).
• The BCP resulted in 1999 along with 290 Swedish municipalities running a campaign with the aim to raise public awareness on the issue of battery recycling and thus reduce the number of batteries that end up in the trash.
• Since 2000, campaigns and competitions are conducted at schools at regular intervals. There was a marketing campaign called " Hem till Holken " which was very well received by the public.
• In 2005 there was a special campaign for 3 to 5 year old children.

All this led to the need of battery recycling is generally accepted today in the Swedish population. Today, there are collection points and even a Batterieholsystem.

Techniques of battery recycling

Zinc carbon, zinc air and alkaline manganese batteries

Zinc carbon, zinc air and alkaline manganese batteries contain significant amounts of zinc, which is at the forefront in the use of these batteries. In the recycling of zinc-containing batteries is the imperial smelting process (IS ) is the most important process. The process allows the use of various zinc-containing substances and therefore potentially require steps that precede melting. Since they are irrelevant to the battery recycling, they are considered here in detail. The zinc-containing batteries are introduced together with coke in the furnace. The zinc evaporates and leaves together with the exhaust gases of the furnace. In an absorber liquid lead is blown as a fine mist into the exhaust gases. Zinc forms with the lead droplets alloy and may be pumped out. By cooling the mixture separates again in lead and zinc. While the tapped liquid zinc and further processed ( refined ) can be lead is pumped back to the absorber.

Another method was developed by company Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Batrec Industrie AG. When Batrec ( Sumitomo ) process, the batteries are heated in a kiln at 600-750 ° C. For this purpose, use is made of a reducing hot wind. The costs incurred in the onset of pyrolysis gases are then completely oxidized in a secondary combustion chamber. To avoid the formation of dioxins, the reaction products of the secondary combustion chamber are abruptly cooled down to 60 ° C and then fed to an exhaust gas purification. Residues from the pyrolysis of the battery are placed in a furnace. By means of induction coils, the material is heated to 1,500 ° C. In a reducing atmosphere, the oxides present are reduced by the addition of magnesium oxide and coal and melted metals. Zinc is evaporated and is passed into an absorber. Where liquid zinc is sprayed into the exhaust air flow to the condensing gaseous zinc. It is then cast into ingots. The remaining exhaust gas can be used as an energy supplier for the pyrolysis due to the high level of carbon monoxide. In the melting furnace are still in slag and ferro- manganese, which are easy to separate because of different density. The ferro manganese is supplied as a master alloy to steel plants. The slag is to be deposited.

Nickel -cadmium accumulators

Distillation into a vacuum furnace, a container with about 500 kg of nickel -cadmium accumulators ( NiCd batteries ) used. The vacuum- sealed furnace is then evacuated to 0.1 mbar. By means of induction coils is achieved a furnace temperature of 100-150 ° C. The temperature is sufficient to evaporate the water contained and any existing volatile organic constituents. This is followed by further heating to 750 ° C and the addition of process agents to reduce Cadmiumoxids contained. In view of the low pressure cadmium evaporates even at 310 ° C ( instead of at 767 ° C under normal pressure). In a cold place the cadmium condenses and can be separated with a purity of 99.9 to 99.99 %. In the furnace, a low- cadmium nickel-iron mixture remains ( cadmium content depending on the duration of treatment 5-300 ppm) and an oil - water mixture. The latter mixture can be prepared chemically and physically. The nickel-iron mixture can be used either separately or, for example, in steel making. Advantages of vacuum distillation, the comparatively low cost, low cadmium contamination of the nickel-iron mixture and the very low exhaust emissions. Cadmium or lead are not detected in the exhaust gases.

NiCd batteries can be also utilized in a pyrolysis furnace about it. These 4000 kg batteries are heated in a reducing atmosphere at 350-500 ° C. Within 14 hours, a major part of the resin contained is decomposed or carbonized into volatile hydrocarbons. The exhaust gases of the pyrolysis furnace must be post- consuming. After treatment are still 30 micrograms of cadmium per cubic meter of air detectable. Subsequently, the battery remains is compressed and heated in a distillation oven to 900 ° C. The cadmium contained is reduced and cadmium evaporated. On cooling elements of the condensed cadmium vapor. The cadmium and an oil -water mixture can be deposited. The third fraction, a nickel-iron mixture with a cadmium content of 0.1-0.5 % by weight. This recovery method is more expensive than the vacuum distillation, the nickel-iron mixture is also stronger with cadmium contaminated than after vacuum distillation. However, the pyrolysis allows higher throughput.

Nickel - metal hydride storage batteries

For NiMH batteries, vacuum distillation can also be used. This one focuses on the removal of the hydrogen contained. What remains is a nickel-iron mixture that can be passed through to steelmakers such as in the exploitation of NiCd batteries. In a second method, the batteries will be opened in a cutting mill, so that the hydrogen can escape. Then the batteries are mixed together with other nickel-containing waste and used as a master alloy for stainless steel production.

Lithium batteries and rechargeable batteries

Lithium manganese primary cells can also be recycled with the aid of vacuum distillation. Here, especially nickel-containing iron and ferromanganese are obtained. The rechargeable lithium - ion and lithium - polymer batteries are metallurgically processed, which mainly cobalt, nickel and copper are recovered.