European Collection and Recycling Organisations (CROs)

Today we can group the different CROs into three major groups:

1. Systems where industry is responsible for collection, sorting, recycling, awareness programs and high mandatory collection targets. This type of system is characterized by high awareness program costs. In Belgium these are presently 5000 €/t still struggling to aim for an unachievable collection rate of 75% of sales.
   
2. Systems with shared responsibility and high mandatory collection targets. In this system, municipalities share the responsibility for collection. But industry is responsible for meeting the collection target resulting in high awareness program costs. In The Netherlands these are presently 3700 €/t. aiming at a collection rate of 90% of batteries discarded, which is also unachievable.
   
3. Systems with shared responsibility and no mandatory collection targets. Here, the retailers and municipalities have the financial responsibility for collection from consumers. The awareness programs are part of the public responsibility. In Austria and Germany the costs are around 1300 €/t.

• In 1989, Austria started the first industry lead collection schemes called UFB, based on a battery directive and an agreement with the municipalities and retailers. Today approximately 160g of batteries per inhabitant are collected which is about 54% of the batteries sold at the same time. The collection scheme is financed via an "environmental fee" charged per battery type to the consumer.

  Link to UFB Website - www.batteriensammeln.at/sammeln.htm

• In 1995, Belgium started the collection of all batteries with the system called "Bebat", established by battery industry in Belgium. Today approx. 200 g batteries per inhabitant are collected, which is about 58% of the batteries sold in the same period. The costs are financed via a "environmental fee" per battery, defined by the Ministry of Finance and charged to the consumer.

  Link to Bebat website - www.bebat.be

• In 1997, Battery Industry achieved an agreement with the Dutch Government for the establishment of a collection scheme called "Stibat". Today approximately 125g batteries per inhabitant are collected which is about 33% of the batteries sold in the same time. The system is financed via an "environmental fee" charged per battery type to the consumer.

  Link to Stibat Website - www.stibat.nl

• In 1998, the German collection scheme "GRS" started its work based on a battery directive. Today approximately 120g batteries per inhabitant are collected, which is about 33% of the batteries sold in the same period. Battery manufacturers and importers finance the costs.

  Link to the GRS Website - www.grs-batterien.de

• In 1998, the Swedish Government started the collection of batteries containing lead, cadmium and mercury. Manufacturers and importers of batteries containing these metals must pay an "environmental levy" to the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, which finances the collection of batteries.

  Link to EPA website - www.internat.environ.se

• In 1999, the Danish Government started the collection of batteries containing lead, cadmium and mercury. Manufacturers and importers of batteries containing these metals must pay an "environmental levy" to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, which finances the collection of batteries.

  Link to EPA website - www.mst.dk

• In 2001, the French Government implemented a battery directive. Several systems are established in France. Battery Industry has established the "Fibat/Screlec" organisation. In 2001, approximately 600 tonnes of batteries were collected.

  Link to Corepile website - http://www.corepile.fr/

• Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary have established legislations to collect all batteries. Battery Industry has established Collection and Recycling Organizations (CROs) in these countries since 2002.
  

List of CROs: