Collection and recycling of spent batteries on a voluntary basis instead forced by law has advantages and disadvantages: on the one side flexibility1 on the other side there is the "free-rider"-problem and the unclear legal situation concerning the antitrust legislation, national and Europe-wide. The European legislation — EC directives concerning environmental matters, a multitude of national laws, decrees and guidelines have to be regarded. National legislation e.g. in A, CH, D, DK, NL with national collection schemes and financing schemes are existing. The E.P.B.A. Scheme for Collection and Recycling (E.P.B.A. = European Portable Battery Association) is a guideline for all battery producers in the EC member states. There are recycling facilities today — what is economically feasible for the "today-non-recycables" in future? Precondition for economic recycling is sorting by chemical systems. Recycling processes for Primary Alkaline cells, Zinc-Carbon cells and Lithium cells are developed and feasible when we have real 0 % mercury (＜ 5 PPM in the battery waste stream outlook).
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