Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission
3.10.2022
The Commission is aware of the need to update the EU List of Waste[1], to include waste lithium-ion industrial and electric vehicle batteries as separate waste codes, including as appropriate as hazardous waste, under sub-Chapter 1606 in order to harmonise the current disparate classification across Member States.
The Commission intends to propose such an update together with other targeted changes to the EU List of Waste in 2024.
The Commission is hopeful that the legislative process to adopt the new Batteries Regulation[2] will be concluded as soon as possible so that it would enter into force in the first half of 2023.
New rules concerning recycling efficiency would then need to be adopted in the second half of 2024 through secondary legislation.
The Commission will ensure that such rules and procedures to implement them take due account of the updated classification of waste lithium-ion batteries in the EU List of Waste.
- [1] 2000/532/EC: Commission decision of 3 May 2000 replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste (notified under document number C(2000) 1147), OJ L 226, 6.9.2000, p. 3‐24.
- [2] Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning batteries and waste batteries, repealing Directive 2006/66/EC and amending Regulation (EU) No 2019/1020, COM(2020) 798 final.