The amount of portable batteries collected for recycling in Finland has increased steadily over the past 15 years. The 45% collection rate target for portable batteries set by legislation has been met every year. In 2025, 417 grams of portable batteries were collected per capita, equivalent to approximately 18 AA batteries.
Figure 1: Collection volumes and collection rates for portable batteries in Finland, 2009–2025. In 2025, the amount collected exceeded 2 million kilograms for the first time, reaching a record high.
The collection rate for portable batteries is calculated against the amount of batteries placed on the market during the preceding three years. Due to this calculation method, the collection rate does not directly indicate that all batteries not collected for recycling have ended up in mixed waste. Some batteries are still in use, some are stored in households, and some may enter other streams, such as unofficial collection channels or reuse as part of devices.
The importance of lithium-ion batteries is growing, but their service life is often considerably longer than that of primary batteries. This affects the timeframe in which batteries placed on the market are returned for collection and recycling. Under the new EU Batteries Regulation, light means of transport (LMT) batteries will, for the first time, be subject to specific collection targets: 51% by 2028 and 61% by 2031. Read more about the calculation of collection rates and the impacts of the EU Batteries Regulation: #BatteryRegulation: The EU aims to tighten the collection rate of batteries and accumulators and make the calculation methods more realistic – Paristokierrätys
In 2025, registered producers reported placing approximately 3.7 million kilograms of portable batteries on the Finnish market. In addition, around 280,000 kilograms of small industrial batteries and lithium vehicle batteries were placed on the market. Batteries used in light means of transport (LMT), such as electric bicycles and e-scooters, are included in the small industrial battery category. Registered producers can be searched through the producer register member search in the Waste Management Compass: Waste Management Compass – Search for members of the producer register
Of the portable batteries placed on the market, approximately 75% were primary (non-rechargeable) batteries and 23% were lithium-ion batteries. Lead-acid and nickel-metal hydride batteries together accounted for around 2%. The placing on the market of portable lead-acid batteries was prohibited under the EU Batteries Regulation as of 18 August 2025.
Figure 2: Distribution of portable batteries placed on the market in Finland by chemistry in 2025.
Alkaline and other primary (non-rechargeable) batteries continue to account for by far the largest share of collected batteries. In 2025, approximately 85% of portable batteries collected were alkaline and similar battery types, 10% were lithium-ion batteries, and 5% represented other battery chemistries. Consumers in Finland are served by an extensive network of approximately 8,000 collection points.
Figure 3. Distribution of separately collected portable batteries by chemistry in Finland in 2025.
Materials recovered from separately collected batteries can be used in the manufacture of new products. Current legislation requires that at least 50% of collected batteries be recycled as materials. In addition, the EU Batteries Regulation introduces specific recycling targets for the materials contained in batteries, with requirements that will become progressively more stringent over time.
In 2025, a total of 952 tonnes of recycled materials were recovered from separately collected portable batteries. The largest recovered material streams were zinc and iron, while other recovered materials included cobalt, nickel, and copper.
Figure 4: Recycled materials recovered from separately collected portable batteries in 2025.
Metals recovered from batteries, such as iron, zinc, nickel, cobalt, and copper, are widely used in industry and in the manufacture of new products. For example, iron recovered from steel battery casings is returned to the steel industry and used in products such as vehicles, buildings, and machinery. Zinc is used in applications including the construction and automotive industries, and recycled battery materials can also be used to manufacture new batteries.
Recycling delivers significant environmental benefits. Producing metals from recycled materials requires substantially less energy and generates lower emissions than extracting virgin raw materials. For example, the climate impact of recycled iron can be up to 85% lower, while that of recycled zinc can be around 50% lower. For some metals, such as nickel, the emissions savings can be even greater.
In addition, recycling reduces the consumption of natural resources and decreases the need for mining, which is often associated with significant environmental and human rights impacts. Recovering critical raw materials contained in batteries, such as cobalt, is particularly important for the green transition, as it helps ensure the availability of the materials needed for battery production.
Read more about recycling processes, the uses of recycled materials, and their environmental benefits: Recycling process – Paristokierrätys
The statistics on portable batteries presented on this page are based on data compiled by Recser Oy on batteries placed on the Finnish market by registered producers, as well as batteries collected and recycled on their behalf in Finland. The data are submitted to the Finnish Supervisory Agency, which oversees producer responsibility, compiles national statistics, and reports them to the European Commission.
National producer responsibility statistics for all types of batteries are available here: Recycling Statistics for Extended Producer Responsibility – Finnish Supervisory Agency
European Commission statistics on batteries placed on the market and collected across Europe are available through the following databases:
Sales and collection of portable batteries and accumulators and Waste statistics – recycling of batteries and accumulators
