Batteries used by individuals and professionals alike can contain substances that are hazardous for the environment and human health. For this reason, a collection and treatment scheme was put in place in Europe as early as 1991.

The batteries EPR scheme is one of the first European schemes, and prior to 2025 its scope was limited to portable batteries.  

EU Regulation 2023/1542 expands this scheme to include batteries used for traction in light means of transport (LMT), electric vehicle batteries, starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) batteries, and industrial batteries. From 18 August 2025, producers of batteries in all these categories must fulfil their extended producer responsibility by joining a producer responsibility organisation (PRO) accredited by the public authorities, or apply for accreditation on an individual basis.  

This regulation comes with some new targets, to be met between 2025 and 2031: 

• Collection targets for portable and LMT batteries;
• Recycling efficiency targets, now incorporating lithium-based batteries;
• Materials recovery targets for cobalt, copper, lead, lithium and nickel. 

The French order establishing the specifications for accreditation also introduces a new second life target. 

Batteries are devices that store energy in electrochemical form and can be either non-rechargeable (primary batteries) or rechargeable (secondary batteries). 

The products concerned

All types of battery are concerned, irrespective of their shape, volume, weight and materials.  
This also includes batteries embedded in electrical and electronic equipment or vehicles.

For an overview of the products concerned, you can contact the PROs holding accreditation within the scheme. By way of example, you can consult the non-exhaustive list made available by ecosystem. 

Are your products packaged ?

If so, you also come under the household packaging and graphic papers (EMPAP) scheme. 

Products not concerned

Batteries used in military equipment and equipment designed to be sent into space.  

For further information, see articles R.543-124 to R.543-129 of the Environmental Code

The producers concerned are all those placing batteries on the market in France, whether in-store or online.  

As regards second life, the economic operators  that place on the market batteries that have been subject from preparation for reuse, from preparation for repurposing, or from a repurposing or remanufacturing operation, are also concerned. 
 
For further information, see  article R.543-124 of the Environmental Code. 

The EU Regulation defines five categories of batteries: 

1. Portable battery 
   A battery that is sealed, weighs 5 kg or less, is not designed specifically for industrial use and is neither an electric vehicle battery, an LMT battery, nor an SLI battery.
2. Light means of transport (LMT) battery 
   A battery that is sealed, weighs 25 kg or less and is specifically designed to provide electric power for the traction of wheeled vehicles that can be powered by an electric motor alone or by a combination of motor and human power, including type-approved vehicles of category L within the meaning of Regulation EU No. 168/2013, and that is not an electric vehicle battery.
3. Starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) battery 
   A battery that is specifically designed to supply electric power for starting, lighting, or ignition and that can also be used for auxiliary or backup purposes in vehicles, other means of transport or machinery.
4. Industrial battery 
   A battery that is specifically designed for industrial uses, intended for industrial uses after having been subject to preparation for repurposing or repurposing, or any other battery that weighs more than 5 kg and that is neither an electric vehicle battery, an LMT battery, nor an SLI battery.

5. Electric vehicle battery 
   A battery that is specifically designed to provide electric power for traction in hybrid or electric vehicles of category L as provided for in Regulation (EU) No. 168/2013, that weighs more than 25 kg, or a battery that is specifically designed to provide electric power for traction in hybrid or electric vehicles of categories M, N or O as provided for in Regulation (EU) No. 2018/858.

   For further information, consult the note [in French] issued by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition on the classification of batteries, which provides examples of application for batteries in each category. The purpose of this note is to classify the different types of batteries concerned in a non-exhaustive manner. However, this interpretation on

EU Regulation No. 2023/1542 of 12 July 2023 (articles 59, 60 and annex XII) provides for a number of collection, recycling efficiency and material recovery targets: 

The 2025 specifications also provide for a reuse, repurposing and remanufacturing target: 

Previous targets in force up to 18 August 2025 

French regulations 

• Accreditation of Recycler Mon Véhicule valid until 2030: Order of 11 August 2025;
• Accreditation of ecosystem (replacing Corepile) valid until December 2030: Order of 11 August 2025;
• Accreditation of Batribox valid until December 2030: Order of 11 August 2025;
• Specifications: Order of 27 March 2025;
• Alignment of the Environmental Code with EU regulations: Decree no. 2024-1221 of 27 December 2024
• Fourth accreditation of Corepile until August 2025: Order of 20 December 2024;
• Fourth accreditation of Screlec (now called Batribox) until August 2025: Order of 20 December 2024.
• Data reporting: Order of 12 December 2022;
• Placing on the market of batteries and accumulators and collection and treatment of their waste: Decree no. 2015-849 of 10 July 2015;
• National register of battery and accumulator producers: Order of 18 November 2009 (amended by the Order of 6 August 2015);
• Transit, grouping, sorting and treatment of used batteries and accumulators: Order of 9 November 2009 (amended by the Order of 26 October 2011);
• Placing on the market and disposal of batteries and accumulators: Decree no. 2009-1139 of 22 September 2009;
• Legislation establishing the scheme: Article L541-10-1 point 6 of the Environmental Code; 

European Union regulations 

• Batteries and waste batteries: EU Regulation No. 2023/1542 of 12 July 2023;
• Method for calculating recycling efficiencies: EU Regulation No. 493/2012 of 11 June 2012;
• Labelling of batteries and accumulators: EU Regulation No. 1103/2010 of 29 November 2010; 

The batteries EPR scheme is organised around the actors placing products on the market, those in charge of collection, and those in charge of treatment (recycling).  

From 18 August 2025, the EU Regulation on batteries and waste batteries requires producers to submit an application for authorisation to fulfil their extended producer responsibility obligations to the public authorities (article 58). Thus, to comply with this regulation, companies putting batteries on the market can:  

• either set up and obtain accreditation for an individual compliance scheme covering collection and treatment,  
• or join a producer responsibility organisation holding accreditation to collect and treat batteries in the corresponding categories. 

Collection 

Since waste batteries are classified as hazardous waste within the meaning of article R. 541-8 of the Environmental Code, the EU regulation stipulates that batteries must be collected separately from other waste streams.

To take into account the evolving battery market and improve the identification and classification of relevant waste streams, the European Union will apply a new classification for waste batteries as of 9 November 2026 (according to Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2025/934). 

Treatment 

After collection, batteries are sent to sorting centres where they are separated by chemical type (alkaline batteries, lithium-based batteries, lead-acid batteries, etc.), and then sent to recyclers for treatment appropriate to each type.

It is forbidden to landfill or incinerate waste batteries, with the exception of residues that have already undergone treatment. Most batteries are ground up first of all, and then undergo a specific treatment depending on the best available techniques at an economically viable cost: 

• Pyrometallurgical processes: for lead-acid, alkaline and zinc carbon batteries.
• Hydrometallurgical processes: for NiCd, NiMH, lithium-based, alkaline and zinc carbon batteries.
• Distillation: for button cells.
• Separation and flocculation: for various types of batteries. 

These treatments are carried out by the following French operators: