To create a more sustainable and circular economy, the European Commission has updated the European List of Waste to include new waste codes specifically designed for battery-related waste
This new plan, adopted on 5 March, hopes to manage the waste battery waste throughout its lifecycle, from manufacturing to recycling.
The new regulations are expected to play an important role in improving the sustainability of the automotive sector and supporting the EU’s green transition goals.
A more sustainable circular economy
Batteries are at the heart of the EU’s efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
The updated waste codes will help improve the recycling of these important components in society, ensuring that valuable raw materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt are kept within the economy for extended periods.
Black mass’ importance in recycling
A key part of this update is classifying “black mass,” a valuable material produced during battery recycling, as hazardous waste.
Black mass consists of shredded battery materials and is a critical resource for the recycling process.
By classifying it as hazardous, the Commission aims to ensure better oversight and control of black mass shipments, particularly preventing export to non-OECD countries.
This move works with the EU’s objective of boosting battery recycling within its borders, ensuring that valuable raw materials are retained in the European economy rather than being lost through illegal or improper disposal abroad.
Ensuring safe waste
In addition to black mass, the new waste codes introduce specific classifications for various types of battery waste, including those from battery manufacturing, post-consumer batteries, and intermediate fractions from battery recycling.
Including these specific waste categories is particularly important given the emergence of new battery chemistries, such as lithium-based and nickel-based batteries. The updated list also introduces new codes for hazardous waste, including lithium-based batteries from separately collected municipal waste, ensuring that all waste streams from battery life cycles are properly managed and safely handled.
New waste code regulations
The introduction of this new waste code is important for the EU’s wider plan to transition to a circular economy, one that minimises waste and maximises the reuse and recycling of raw materials.
The classification of waste as hazardous or non-hazardous is based on scientific research and the chemical composition of different battery types, ensuring that the rules are grounded in up-to-date data. This approach not only helps protect human health and the environment but also enhances the security of supply for key raw materials, such as lithium and cobalt, which are essential for producing electric vehicle batteries.
The new regulations also strengthen the EU’s commitment to its strategic autonomy. The Commission hopes to reduce dependency on non-EU countries for critical raw materials and battery components by ensuring that battery waste is recycled within the EU.
This is particularly important as the demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems continues to rise.
The updated list of waste codes will come into effect 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, provided there are no objections from the European Parliament or the Council of the EU.
Following this, the focus will shift to implementing the new codes across member states and ensuring that waste operators are prepared to adapt their procedures to the stricter requirements. This includes modifying permit procedures and documentation to handle hazardous waste and ensuring compliance with the new provisions when dealing with waste shipments within the EU and to OECD countries.
