The introduction of deposit return systems for batteries, in particular for portable batteries of general use, should be investigated, say the EU's co-legislators. Under the agreement on the EU Battery Regulation hammered out between representatives of the European Parliament and Council late last year in trilogue talks, the Commission is to table a report on the feasibility and potential benefits of establishing deposit return systems (DRS) for batteries by the end of 2027. This review will take account of both national and harmonised EU-wide systems.
In late January, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee unanimously approved the intra-institutional deal on the Battery Regulation agreed in December. In contrast with the summaries released by EU institutions in December, the recently published text of the final compromise reached in the trilogue talks also includes additional details about the minimum recycled content targets for new batteries....
