In 2023, Belgium set a new record by collecting 3,907 metric tonnes of used batteries. It marks a 5% increase from the previous year, as reported by non-profit organisation Bebat which handles their collection, sorting, reuse and recycling.
This figure should be compared with the fact that the number of batteries put on the market has only increased by 2%.
Bebat also boasts a collection efficiency of over 90%. This means that more than 90% of the used batteries which consumers wish to dispose of are collected by the organisation. This trend confirms that Belgians excel in waste sorting and are ready to cope with the impending EU battery regulations that will set far higher targets, Bebat stated.
In 2023, the company managed to collect 60.3% of the batteries placed on the market – vastly exceeding the current EU target of 45%. Consequently, Bebat is confident in its ability to reach the European target of 63% by 2027.
Awareness of the importance of battery collection is increasingly felt among producers and sellers. The number of companies taking part in Bebat has tripled in ten years and now stands at 4,868.
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On the downside of these positive trends, Bebat finds the EU's collection target of 73% by 2030 unrealistic. The target does not consider the extended lifespan of Li-ion (lithium) batteries, which now largely dominate the market, growing three times faster than traditional primary batteries.
By the end of 2023, Belgium registered 25,111 active collection points.
