Dangerous substances contained in batteries and accumulators
A Council Directive of 18 March 1991 concerns batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances (91/157/EEC) aims to approximate the laws of Member States on the recovery and controlled disposal of the above. Member States shall draw up programmes in order to achieve the following objectives: Reduction of the heavy-metal content of batteries and accumulators; promotion of marketing of devices containing less dangerous substances; reduction in household waste of devices set out in Annex 1; promotion of research to reduce dangerous content and to advance recycling; separate disposal. The first programmes shall cover a four-year period, starting on 18 March 1993, and must be communicated to the Commission by 17 September 1992 at the latest. They shall be reviewed regularly, particularly in the light of technological progress and of the economic and environmental situation. Annex one defines the chemical structure of batteries and accumulators covered by the Decision.