July 15, 2025, 8:51 am | Read time: 3 minutes

With the implementation of the new EU Regulation 2023/1542 on battery regulation, batteries are to be recycled more efficiently across Europe, return systems expanded, and hazards such as fires from lithium batteries reduced. In Germany, the discussion about a possible deposit for batteries is particularly noteworthy. The Bundestag plans to vote on a corresponding law in the fall.

EU Regulation Tightens Requirements for Battery Manufacturers

The EU regulation, effective mid-August, replaces the previous battery directive from 2006. A significant change concerns “device batteries,” meaning batteries in portable devices such as smartphones, laptops, and household appliances. Consumers should be able to “easily remove and replace” the built-in batteries in the future. Repairs of such devices could thus become easier, TECHBOOK reported.

The EU regulation also stipulates that comprehensive return systems must be established for all types of batteries—from device to vehicle batteries. The return must be free of charge for consumers. Additionally, manufacturers are required to transparently disclose the chemical composition of their batteries and provide a tax ID.

For the first time, battery categories such as those for e-bikes, e-scooters, and electric cars are legally covered. For consumers, this means more clarity in disposal.

Read also: Lithium or Alkaline Battery? An Overview of the Differences

Delays in National Implementation of the BattDG

In Germany, the EU regulation is to be transposed into national law through the so-called Battery Law Enforcement Act (BattDG). However, an initial draft from 2024 failed due to a change in government. The current federal government has since made a new attempt, with contents closely resembling the original draft.

However, the final vote in the Bundestag is not expected until October or November. Until then, experts anticipate a transitional phase of several months, during which EU directives and national regulations could be partially contradictory.

The Federal Association of the German Waste, Water, and Recycling Industry (BDE) warns of such a transitional period. Increasingly, waste is catching fire because batteries are not disposed of properly. Consumers are sometimes unaware of where batteries or accumulators are used—for example, in disposable e-cigarettes or flashing children’s shoes.

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Deposit on Batteries–Is That the Solution?

BDE President Anja Siegesmund therefore calls for political measures and advocates for a deposit system. Environmental ministers from several federal states also support this step. The goal is to reduce the risk of fire and better protect recycling facilities.

The deposit on batteries is already a topic of discussion in several political bodies—not just in Germany. In Austria, for example, a corresponding proposal was recently submitted, as around three million lithium batteries end up in residual waste annually, causing several fires daily.

The Green Party argues that a deposit model could not only increase the return rate but also save valuable raw materials and improve the environment and safety. According to EU requirements, 73 percent of device batteries must be collected separately by 2030—a target that is currently far from being met.

However, exactly what the system will look like and how high the deposit on batteries could be is currently uncertain. In Austria, 10 euros for smaller batteries and 50 euros for larger accumulators like those in vehicles have been proposed, reports the magazine “Salzburger Nachrichten.” In Germany, distributors of vehicle batteries already charge a deposit of 7.50 euros on car batteries, which they refund upon return of the battery.