Castelli: “Exhausted batteries, Italy far from EU collection targets”

“The EU target level of exhausted batteries collection is 45%: this means that out of 100 batteries sold, each Member State should recover at least 45. In Italy, with the official channel, we are not even halfway because our harvest levels today they fluctuate between 15 and 20% ”. It starts from a necessary premise, Laura Castellifrom October 1st general manager of Erion Energythe non-profit consortium of Erion system dedicated to waste management of batteries and accumulators.

Why does the collection of batteries not work in Italy?

“First of all, because about 6 out of 10 Italians today do not know where to take their exhausted batteries or worse still they do not even know they have them at home, because they have been forgotten in some drawer”.

What are the existing channels to collect portable or stylus batteries, the ones we commonly use?

“There are two. The first is the official channel consisting of municipal eco-centers and columns made available by distribution (supermarkets and shopping centers). This channel is managed by the National Coordination Center for batteries and accumulators; the second is the free voluntary collection channel “.

Which are the most virtuous cities in Italy?

“At the moment, the province of Bolzano is the one with the highest per capita harvest”.

Is our country the black jersey of Europe?

“Let’s say we are the gray jersey. But we are not the only ones behind in the EU. There are countries that have a higher return rate, often also have different regulations on waste collection and a logistically simpler territory, such as Belgium. In Italy we have a very strict system of rules for the collection of waste and a very complicated geographical reality “.

How many producers of batteries and accumulators are there in Italy? And how many of them are part of the Erion system?

“Our shareholders are 1,250 and they control approximately one third of the amount placed on the market. At the national level, there is no official figure because a mapping of the producers has never been made, but it could be around 6,000 ”.

In Italy there is no national operator to coordinate the market for the collection and recycling of batteries and accumulators: is it a good or a bad thing?

“In the Italian multi-consortium system, all collective systems are brought to greater efficiency and are looking for the continuous improvement of their performance. But everything is evolving since in 2023 the European Commission will license the new regulation, immediately applicable in every Member State, for the collection and recycling of batteries and accumulators. In essence, Brussels will give producers responsibility for the rate of return, ie the return on sales. In our case, directly to the Erion Energy Consortium and its member producers. Today, however, the responsibility lies generically with the member state. With the new regulation, producers who do not reach the EU targets will be sanctioned. At this point, the challenge will be to channel all possible volumes into the consortium system, also trying to use channels that we do not use today “.

For her part, what is Erion Energy doing?

“Erion Energy has launched a vast awareness project to encourage the collection of exhausted batteries. The project is called “Energy cubed” and is being carried out in various areas of the country, from north to south, in collaboration with 5 municipal companies: Alia Servizi Ambientali, Iren, Hera Group, Impresa Sangalli Giancarlo & Ce Terra delle Sirene. The project involves citizens to whom we distribute boxes to collect portable batteries that have reached the end of their life. Once full, the piles contained in the boxes can be delivered to certain collection points located in each city participating in the initiative. In addition, the program also includes an information campaign aimed primarily at younger people. Educational meetings and contests are planned in schools to sensitize young people to the important issue of battery collection and, more generally, of differentiated waste “.

Is the project annual or will it continue in other areas of the country?

“The idea, if our partners so wish, is to continue in 2023 with a project maintenance program, together with the municipalities and municipalities involved. Strengthened by the experience gained in 2022, we will choose the most successful initiatives and propose them to other municipal companies in the country in 2023 ”.

Why is it important to recycle batteries?

“Because inside there are substances that, if treated correctly, could become raw materials. I’m talking about elements such as nickel, manganese, cadmium, copper, lead, lithium, zinc and rare earths. Let’s just think about how important lithium is to build batteries for electric cars, or for consumer electrical equipment, such as cell phones or drills. These waste, if treated correctly, represent a small mine for Italy, especially today when their supply is so complicated worldwide ”.