FAQ Legislation

The legislation requires the Producer to:

• place on the market (with a few exceptions) only batteries and accumulators which meet the cadmium and mercury percentages set by the regulations in force;
• register in the National Register of Producers and show the registration number, within 30 days of its issuance, on all transport documents and invoices;
• regularly communicate the annual sales volumes to the Register;
• establish and manage systems for the collection, treatment and recovery of Waste Batteries and Accumulators appropriate to cover the entire national territory. Producer can decide to operate on an individual basis by registering in the Coordination Centre and organising a network of service suppliers, or on a collective basis, relying on a Collective Scheme such as <strong class=”f-blu”>Erion</strong> <strong class=”f-green”>Energy</strong>;
• cover the costs relating to the Waste Batteries and Accumulators collection systems;
• label the batteries and accumulators by placing on the devices the symbol of the crossed-out wheelie bin and the chemical symbol of lead, mercury or cadmium, if the quantities contained in them are within the levels set by the regulations in force, and, in the case of portable and automotive batteries and accumulators, their capacity must also be shown;
• promote, through the Batteries and Accumulators Coordination Centre (CDCNPA), information campaigns for end users concerning: the potential effects of the substances contained in batteries and accumulators on health and the environment; the obligation of separate collection of WBA and related collection systems made available; the treatment and recycling methods and their importance; the meaning of the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol and of the chemical symbols of lead, mercury or cadmium.

The Battery Register is the National Register of Producers of Battery and Accumulator to which all Producers of household and professional EEE must be registered and declare on an annual basis the volumes placed on the market.

The Register is public and accessible at: www.registropile.it

Legislative Decree 188/08 lays down administrative sanctions for defaulting Producers:

• from €50 to €1000 for each battery or accumulator placed on the market that does not bear the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol and, if dangerous substances (such as mercury, cadmium or lead) are present, without the related chemical symbol;
• from €30,000 to €100,000 for those who, without being registered in the Chamber of Commerce, place on the market batteries and accumulators;
• from €2,000 to €20,000 for Producers who sell Batteries and Accumulators without being registered in the National Register, or do not communicate the information required or inaccurately or incorrectly communicate it;
• from €2,000 to €5,000 for Producers of Electrical and Electronic Equipment containing batteries and accumulators who do not provide the necessary information in the instructions for use;
• from €100 to €2,000 (for each battery or accumulator) for those placing on the market devices containing substances considered to be hazardous and therefore prohibited by law.

Waste portable batteries and accumulators can be delivered free of charge to the municipal collection points or to a retail outlet selling batteries and accumulators. Large-scale retail channels selling batteries and accumulators must:

• make available to the consumer at retail outlets containers where Waste Batteries and Accumulators may be disposed of, encouraging the free take back of spent portable batteries without the obligation to purchase new portable batteries or accumulators;
• display, near the sales counters, information indicating to the consumer the possibility of leaving portable WBA at their points of sale.

Distributors of portable batteries and accumulators may register in the National Batteries and Accumulators Coordination Centre to receive the free take back service.

As regards industrial and automotive accumulators, it is the Producers (or third parties acting on their behalf) who are responsible for organising and managing the separate collection systems suitable for collecting waste from end users.

For batteries and accumulators for private vehicles, the end consumer can deliver WBA free of charge to the authorised collection centres.

Also portable batteries and accumulators when they reach the end of their useful lives become waste in all respects and must be properly recycled.

Spent batteries and accumulators can be delivered free of charge to the municipal collection point or, always free of charge, placed in the containers located in shops selling portable batteries and accumulators, regardless of whether a new purchase is made or not.

The collection of industrial and automotive accumulators is carried out by collective and individual systems registered in the National Batteries and Accumulators Coordination Centre (CDCNPA) under free market conditions and in full compliance with current regulations.

The collection service is carried out at the waste holder’s premises, such as workshops, auto parts dealers, car electricians, large users (power plants, hospitals, airports, etc.), who may decide directly with the producer/importer (obliged by law to the end-of-life management of accumulators placed on the market) or the systems registered in the CDCNPA the best operating and economic conditions for optimising the collection activities.