Environmental Evaluation of Treatment Scenarios for Waste Batteries (Alkaline and Zinc-Coal Fraction) Collected in Belgium

摘要

The new European Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC, entering into force on 26 September 2006, quantifies recycling targets for collected zinc carbon and alkaline waste batteries. Eventually, 50% of the weight of these waste batteries has to be recycled. A calculation method for determining the recycling rate of a specific battery treatment has to be developed by a Technical Adaptation Committee (TAC) in the years to come. VITO analysed four treatment scenarios for zinc carbon and alkaline batteries. Starting from an average composition of waste batteries, a mass balance and an environmental profile are calculated for the treatment of 1 ton zinc carbon and alkaline waste batteries according to four treatment scenarios. The environmental profiles are compared using Life Cycle Analysis methodology. The results are used by the Flemish government (OVAM) in the context of the Flemish and European policy development regarding waste batteries.