An EU directive requiring businesses to recycle batteries has come into force recently, but at this time only seven of 27 member companies are said to be in compliance.
In 2006, the Batteries Directive was passed, requiring member countries to enact legislation that would order battery producers to pay for collection, treatment and recycling.
The deadline imposed by the EU for its member states to enact legislation was 10 October, but so far only seven members have done so, including Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Malta, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain. Others that say the legislation has been written but not implemented include Finland, Ireland, Poland and Lithuania, according to a report by Agence France-Presse.
EU directives do not carry the weight of laws, but rather act as instructions to member countries to enact laws and apply them. In general, member states have two years in which to implement the laws, as with the Batteries Directive, for example.
“The revision of the Batteries Directive represents another important step towards our goal of making Europe into a recycling society,” said the environment commissioner, Stavros Dimas. “Those Member States that have not yet transposed it should do so without delay.”
“The Commission will take any necessary infringement action against Member States which have not communicated their transposition measures if they do not remedy the situation rapidly,” a statement by the Commission stressed.
Thanks to www.out-law.com for the quotes above, for more information on this article please visit their website.
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