The European Commission has classified shredded battery waste, also known as “black mass”, as hazardous waste as part of plans to increase the circular management of batteries and critical raw materials.

The Commission updated the List of Waste last week as part of their goal to keep batteries and their critical raw materials in the European economy for longer.

Black mass, lithium-based, nickel-based, and zinc-based waste batteries, and sodium sulphur and alkaline waste batteries are now classed as hazardous.

The European List of Waste provides common terminology for identifying and classifying all different types of waste, including hazardous waste, which can be harmful to human health and the environment.

Access to shredded battery waste is essential for electric vehicle battery recycling. The Commission said the change will “pave the way” for a more sustainable automotive sector.

In accordance with the Basel Convention and the Waste Shipments Regulation, the Commission also said the change will allow them to better control shipments of black mass and ensure that black mass remains in the European economy.

The change is part of the battery regulation’s objective of shifting to a circular economy, increasing security of supply for raw materials and energy, and enhancing the EU’s strategic autonomy.

By keeping black mass longer in the economy we can boost battery recycling and our circular economy.

Commenting on the change, Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, said: “To better protect the environment, the Commission will now classify black mass from batteries as hazardous waste.

“This will lead to better control of black mass shipments and especially a ban on its export to non-OECD countries.

“By keeping black mass longer in the economy we can boost battery recycling and our circular economy.”

New specific waste codes have also been introduced to identify and support the proper management of waste from different stages of the batteries’ life cycle.

These include waste from battery manufacturing, waste from post-consumer batteries, and intermediate fractions from battery recycling.

A new hazardous code for lithium-based batteries for separately collected municipal waste has also been added.

The amendment of the List of Waste will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU if the European Parliament or the Council of the EU do not object to it.

The amendment also aims to improve protections for the environment and human health by ensuring the proper management of battery-related waste.

 

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