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Recycling statistics of portable batteries

Batteries and accumulators became subject to producer responsibility in 2008. Since then, the separate collection rate of portable batteries and accumulators in Finland has steadily increased from around 15 percent to just over 50 percent. In 2023, approximately 1.7 million kilograms of portable batteries and accumulators were separately collected in Finland, and about half of them, or 893,800 kilograms, were returned as recycled materials back into circulation.

The amount of batteries that every Finn takes to the recycling is equal to a large bag of sweets

The amount of separately collected portable batteries in Finland has steadily increased over the last 15 years. The annual separate collection rate requirement set by legislation (45%) has been met. Last year, 320 grams of portable batteries were collected per inhabitant, which is more than a large bag of candy. Converted into AA batteries, the amount returned per capita was 16 batteries. According to the latest waste statistics from the European Union (Eurostat), Finns are the second most diligent recyclers of batteries in Europe when comparing annual per capita collection results.

In recent years, the collection rate, which has risen to around 50 percent, is calculated based on the amount of batteries and accumulators placed on the market over the previous three years. Due to the long lifespan of batteries in particular, the collection rate does not indicate that all remaining batteries have ended up in mixed waste.

According to an EU-level assessment, about a quarter of batteries that are not separately collected may end up in mixed waste. The rest, according to the study, are still in use, hoarded in households, sent to unofficial collection points, or reused outside of Finland with devices. Particularly lithium-ion batteries are a product group that is increasing in market share and often has a significantly longer lifespan (around 3-10 years) than batteries. The upcoming EU Battery Regulation aims to tighten collection rates and is considering changing the calculation method. See our article for more information.

Figure 1: In 2023, Finns returned approximately 1.7 million kilograms of portable batteries to the official, producer-maintained collection system. Collection volumes have slightly decreased from the record year of 2021 when the collection volume exceeded 2 million kilograms.

The volume of lithium-ion batteries is increasing on the market, but alkaline batteries are recycled by far the most

Registered producers reported placing approximately 3.4 million kilograms of portable batteries on the Finnish market in 2023. The amount has decreased over the last two years, with about 3.7 million kilograms reported in 2022 and just over 4 million kilograms in 2021. The amounts reported by registered producers do not include the amounts placed on the market by companies that have not fulfilled their producer responsibility, nor batteries excluded from producer responsibility.

Figure 2: Distribution of portable batteries placed on the market in Finland in 2023.

The share of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries has steadily increased over the last decade. In 2022, the amount of alkaline batteries placed on the market was 66% and lithium-ion batteries 25%, while in 2023, lithium-ion batteries accounted for 27% and alkaline batteries dropped to 64%. The share of lead-based batteries among portable batteries and accumulators was 4% last year, and the share of others, such as nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium primary batteries, and silver oxide batteries, was a total of 5% (Figure 2).

Figure 3: Distribution of separately collected batteries in Finland in 2023.

Alkaline batteries also form the overwhelming majority of collected portable batteries. In 2023, about 80% of the collected items were alkaline batteries and similar, 7% were lead-acid batteries, and 6% were lithium-ion batteries. The share of nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, and silver oxide batteries was a total of about 7%. There are approximately 6,000 registered collection points for portable batteries in our new system.

With the new Battery Regulation, specific collection targets will be set for batteries used in light electric vehicles (LMT) for the first time: 51% by 2028 and 61% by 2031.

Nearly one million kilos of recycled materials recovered from collected batteries

An increasing amount of recycling materials is being recovered from separately collected batteries for use in new products. Current legislation requires that at least half of all collected batteries be recycled as materials. Separate collection rates are set to increase significantly in the coming years, and in the future, there will be specific recycling targets for the materials contained in batteries: 50% for lithium by 2027 and 80% by 2031; 90% for cobalt, copper, lead, and nickel by 2027 and 95% by 2031. See our article for more information.

Figure 4: A total of 894 tons of recycling material were recovered from separately collected portable batteries in 2023.

National and Europe-wide producer responsibility statistics

The statistics on portable batteries presented on this page are based on information compiled by Recser on batteries that have been brought to the markets by manufacturers that have transferred their responsibility to Recser, and collected and recycled by Recser on behalf of these companies.  This information is submitted to the authority that monitors producer responsibility, Pirkanmaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY), which puts together nationwide statistics and sends them to the European Commission. The national producer responsibility statistics on all types of batteries can be found here: Recycling Targets and Outcomes – ELY (in Finnish)

The European Commission statistic on the sales and collection of portable batteries can be found at:
Sales and collection of portable batteries and accumulators and Waste statistics – recycling of batteries and accumulators.

^[1] A portable battery is a non-rechargeable or a rechargeable battery or a battery unit

that is sealed, can be carried manually and is not an industrial or automotive battery. (Government Decree 520/2014, Section 2(1)(4)). Examples of portable batteries include AA and AAA batteries and batteries used in mobile phones, laptops, toys, cordless tools and electric toothbrushes.

^[2] Electric transport equipment batteries refer to e.g. batteries of electric bikes, electric mopeds and electric scooters, which under the current legislation are classed as industrial batteries (Government Decree 520/2014, Section 2(1)(7)). Contrary, batteries used for starting up similar equipment are classed as vehicle batteries (Government Decree 520/2014, Section 2(1)(6)). In the national statistics, these batteries are included in the total figures for industrial batteries and vehicle batteries.

^[3] SWD(2020) 335 final. COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT: IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT. Accompanying the document Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning batteries and waste batteries, repealing Directive 2006/66/EC and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (The Commission’s impact assessment report).