The collection of spent portable batteries is growing, but slowly. 2030 targets still far away

The collection of spent portable batteries is slow, there is a small growth, but the 2030 targets are still far away. And in the European picture, Italia comes fourth with a percentage of 31%, behind Spain, which has reached 46%, France, 50, and Germany, which, on the other hand, has totalled 56%. Values that are still far from the objectives defined by Europe, as Laura Castelli, General Manager of Erion Energy, the consortium of the Erion system dedicated to battery management, points out. "This is why it is increasingly urgent to accelerate on the collection front with a greater capillarity and proximity of the delivery points, as well as with more information."

In 2025, the consortium collected 6.2 thousand tonnes of batteries with a growth of +8% compared to 2024. "Correct treatment," the managers emphasise, "has made it possible to recycle almost 3 thousand tonnes of lead, equal to the weight of 285 thousand new lead batteries; 1.6 thousand tonnes of iron, equivalent to almost 160 thousand car rims; almost 400 tonnes of zinc, equal to almost 64 million 1 euro coins; and about 40 tonnes of aluminium, equal to over 43,000 coffee mochas. Then there is the question of small household appliances. Very often they are disposed of with batteries that have not been taken out. Today, a recovery potential of 10 kilos per tonne is only reached at 6 kilos per tonne.

"We have also set up working tables with treatment plants and trade associations to increase collection," the director continues. In fact, many batteries arrive at the plants incorrectly, sometimes loose and placed in Grouping R4, i.e. in small household appliances such as remote controls, scales, wireless speakers, other times still contained inside devices because they have not been removed by users"

For the director of the consortium, therefore, in addition to more information with the involvement of citizens, it would be necessary to implement collection with new points, in order to avoid the disposal of batteries in the unsorted waste stream.

"Citizens are asking for proximity and integration in their daily routes without having to make a dedicated outing to handle waste correctly," he continues. "In fact, according to the 'Sustainability and Awareness' survey carried out by Ipsos Doxa Italia for Erion, it emerges that they would prefer to dispose of waste in containers in supermarkets (84%) and in areas easily accessible to the public such as shops, parks, fairs, stations. Knowledge of what is correct to do is widespread, but behaviour is fragile'.