Collecting batteries and accumulators

Published by:

Netherlands Enterprise Agency, RVO

2 min read

Do you manufacture, import, or sell (products containing) batteries or accumulators in the Netherlands? Your business may have a producer responsibility. This means you are responsible for managing the collection of discarded batteries, accumulators, or the products in which batteries are integrated (producer responsibility).

What is producer responsibility?

As a producer (manufacturer or importer) you are responsible for the waste management of batteries and accumulators you put on the market. You must collect and process discarded batteries and accumulators, or arrange this in cooperation with other producers.

When do you have producer responsibility?

You have producer responsibility (in Dutch) for batteries and accumulators if your business:

is the first to market batteries or accumulators (or products containing these) in the Netherlands under your own brand or name (producer/importer)
is the first to trade in (products containing) batteries or accumulators in the Netherlands under your own brand (trader)
is the first to import and market batteries or accumulators (or products containing these) in the Netherlands (importer)
sells from abroad directly to end users (consumers) in the Netherlands (importer)

Check to see if your business has producer responsibility with Stibat (in Dutch).

What do you have to do?

If you have producer responsibility you must:

notify Rijkswaterstaat(in Dutch, scroll down and choose mededelingsformulier batterijen en accu’s) how you intend to collect and process these batteries
collect the batteries and accumulators you put on the market provide a nationwide collection network inform end users (consumers) on the importance of separate battery collection
submit a report to Rijkswaterstaat(in Dutch, choose verslagleggingsformulier batterijen en accu's) each year on the amount you collected and processed

Waste management fee

You can meet your obligations on your own, or with other producers. You can join a collective organisation such as batteries foundation Stibat. They can tell you what your obligations are and help you with the collection and recycling.

For specific products it is compulsory to register with a collective organisation. For example for:

portable batteries: you must register with Stibat (by completing the registration form, in Dutch) and pay a waste management fee. Unless you have an exemption.
bicycle batteries: you must register with Stichting EPAC (by completing the registration form, in Dutch), and pay a waste management fee. Unless you have an exemption.

Take-back obligation

Retailers selling (products with built-in) batteries and accumulators must take back discarded batteries and accumulators free of charge. They must clearly inform the consumer where they can hand in the batteries.

If you want to provide a batteries collection point, you can register at the Stibat website.