Draft:Bebat

Bebat ensures that all used batteries in Belgium are collected, sorted and recycled.

Bebat was established in 1995 as a non-profit organisation (a ‘vzw’ in Belgium) by battery producers to help companies and manufacturers meet their legal take-back obligation.

Bebat gives used batteries a new life and is among the world’s top battery collection organisations. In 2022, Bebat had more than 24,000 collection points where used batteries could be deposited conveniently for free. This resulted in Belgium achieving a collection rate of 58.5%, which far exceeds the European standard of 45% (European Parliament and Council Directive 2006/66/EC concerning batteries).

For affiliated companies, Bebat handles the reporting of the number of batteries put on the market, collection of batteries in a nationwide network, raising awareness and prevention, achieving the statutory collection targets, reporting the collected weight, correctly recycling batteries and attaining statutory recycling rates.

Organisation
Bebat’s board comprises representatives of the following companies, organisations and governments.

Members:


 * Automotive Commission
 * Home Batteries Commission
 * Duracell
 * Advanced Power Solutions
 * Varta

Observers:


 * DSD (Département du Sol et des Déchets)
 * Environment Brussels
 * The OVAM (Public Waste Agency of Flanders)
 * COMEOS
 * TECHLINK
 * TRAXIO

Originally, the non-profit organisation was based in Brussels but in 2010 Bebat moved to Tienen.

Bebat's mission

 * 1) Bebat contributes to a better environment by collecting more and more discarded batteries and constantly improving the recycling of these batteries.
 * 2) Bebat makes collection and recycling as easy, safe and efficient as possible.
 * 3) Bebat promotes sustainable use, collection and recycling by communicating clearly and as widely as possible.

Belgian legislation: take-back obligation
Any company that imports or produces batteries and places them on the Belgian market is subject to the legal take-back obligation. This stems from the European Battery Directive 2006/66/EC, which was transposed into federal and three regional legislations in Belgium.

Everyone who imports or produces batteries (separately or built-in) and sells, rents or markets these in Belgium is considered a ‘producer’ according to this legislation. Such companies are required to:


 * register
 * declare the number of batteries sold
 * raise awareness and take the necessary prevention measures
 * set up a comprehensive collection system for the discarded batteries (not just for the batteries it markets, but also to collect the discarded batteries that other manufacturers or importers deliver to it)
 * ensure the collected batteries are processed at a recycler complying with the three regional legislations
 * prove that the recycler attained the European (and regionally) imposed minimum recycling efficiency rate
 * report to the three governments on the above requirements

Not every producer is prepared for these requirements. Bebat’s mission is to support producers with their take-back obligation. Retail outlets selling batteries can join Bebat’s national collection network. A company can also become a collection point for ecological reasons or because it consumes a lot of batteries.

Bebat has developed a tool for companies that helps them check for themselves whether they are subject to the take-back obligation legislation: (Flemish text) https://www.bebat.be/the-test.

Sorting batteries
Bebat collects used batteries via more than 24,000 collection points throughout Belgium. The collected batteries then go to the Sortbat sorting centre in Tienen, where the sorting process takes place in four steps:


 * 1) Pre-sorting: The big batteries and packs are removed in the best manner possible.
 * 2) Manual sorting: Special batteries, such as lead batteries, packs from drills, etc. are removed manually. Anything that should not be in the sorting process is removed (rubbish, electronics, hypodermic needles, light bulbs, etc.).
 * 3) Magnetic sorting: All batteries left on the belt then end up in the magnetic sorting department. Batteries with a non-magnetic casing, such as some zinc batteries and button cells, end up in a separate container as they may contain heavy metals.
 * 4) Mechanical sorting: Batteries are sorted by shape and size with a shake sieve: button batteries, 9V batteries, 4.5V batteries, AA and AAA batteries, and C and D batteries.

Bebat recycling process
Once sorted by chemical family, a specific recycling process is used for each type of battery. To this end, Bebat cooperates with specialised processors in Belgium and neighbouring countries.

These chemical families are recycled separately during the recycling process: Alkaline, zinc-carbon, nickel-cadmium, nickel metal hydride and lithium. These are reused in industry for all kinds of applications. Other sorted batteries, such as lead-acid batteries, packs, etc. also go to the appropriate processor for recycling.

Bebat handles the collection and recycling of all types of batteries. This also includes electric vehicle (EV) batteries. An EV battery has a larger capacity, which makes it much more powerful. So, it also involves more safety measures. This is why the recycling process is different than for the average battery. Note that EV batteries are also eligible for reuse.

New collection method as of 2021
Batteries are changing, and so is the way we collect them. Bebat reviewed the collection process to continue to offer the most efficient solutions for the collection and recycling of the rapidly evolving battery supply chain. The Bebat collection cube plays the main role in the collection and return of used batteries, and no longer the disposable plastic collection bags. The cube is distributed free of charge once or twice a year all over Belgium.

Bebat launched a large-scale national campaign in 2021 to clearly communicate the change in the collection method to consumers. The slogan ‘Measure it so you know it’ also came with a new collection cube. It is used to store and transport used batteries as well as inform consumers which batteries they can return and where they can do so. If a battery fits through the circular opening at the top, it may go to a collection point at schools. If it fits in the cube, it may be collected in shops. Larger batteries must go to the recycling centre.

Smart collection units save CO2
Bebat launched an innovative project in 2021 in which 17,000 out of 24,000 collection points received a new, smart collection unit.

The smart units are equipped with a telemetry system that informs Bebat when the drums are full. A collection request is sent automatically, which reduces the number of collections needed. That saves about 100,000 km of driving and 18,000 kg of CO2 emissions. In addition, the telemetry system also has a temperature sensor and a built-in alarm. If the temperature in a container rises exceptionally quickly, an alarm signal sounds so that the fire safety procedure can commence.

Thus, the telemetry system is beneficial for both the environment and safety. The new system is now also being tested in some European countries, Australia and Canada. The units were awarded a silver Henry van de Velde Award for Business Innovation.

Additional safe collection receptacle in recycling centres
Besides the regular smart collection unit, recycling centres have an extra-safe collection unit, the ASP. This is a larger, fully fireproof container for larger and damaged batteries that has a built-in alarm system.

Staff are trained at the recycling centre to safely handle these kinds of batteries. This means the ASP is not accessible to visitors. It is always used solely by staff.

This also means that large and/or damaged batteries are no longer collected from shops or other collection points. Such batteries are only collected from the recycling centre where these are safely stored until collected for recycling.

The Bebat brand
A survey of Belgians in 2022 found that:


 * 97% are familiar with the Bebat system
 * 91% are familiar with the Bebat brand (only 51% in 2010)
 * 74% see Bebat as an example for the environmental sector

(Source: https://2022.bebat.be/en)

Types of batteries
Batteries on the market have very different compositions. The most commonly collected are the familiar home and kitchen batteries in the alkaline and zinc carbon category. Bebat sorts these battery types:


 * Lead (e.g. car batteries)
 * Lithium-ion (rechargeable batteries in smartphones, laptops, power tool batteries, electric vehicles, etc.)
 * Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) (e.g. batteries in power tools)
 * Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) (e.g. batteries in electric toothbrushes, shavers, some laptops, mobile phones or video cameras)
 * Button cells (flat round batteries in scales, watches, toys, etc.)
 * Lithium (long-life non-rechargeable batteries)
 * Alkaline and zinc carbon(household batteries found in most household appliances)

Collected weight:
In 2022, Bebat collected 3,717 tonnes of batteries.

Collection rate:
58.5% is the collection rate attained by Bebat in 2022 according to the statutory calculation method in Belgium. However, this absolutely does not mean that the remaining 41.5% of batteries ended up in the environment. Although the absolute collection rate (by weight) increased by 2%, the collection rate (by number) decreased slightly (0.5%) compared to 2021. This is explained by the significant increase in the average weight of portable batteries placed on the market during the reference year and the 2 years preceding it – these are the years used in the calculation method of the collection rate. On the other hand, in recent years has shown strong growth in lithium rechargeable batteries. These have much longer service lives than the reference period of three years used to calculate the collection rate. Bebat expects the percentage of rechargeable lithium batteries to continue to grow strongly in the coming years.

It is clear that the current method of calculating the collection rate is no longer adequate and that the introduction of a collection rate calculation methodology based on what is available for collection is imperative due to this market evolution.

With a collection rate of 58.5%, Bebat easily meets the statutory target for Belgium and exceeds the European target of 45% for 2022. Thanks to these results, Bebat retains its top rankings, both in Europe and in the rest of the world.

Collection efficiency
The statutory calculation method does not give a realistic picture of the actual collection efficiency, so Bebat regularly commissions research into the presence of batteries in household waste.

Multiple studies show that only 1 battery is recovered for every 100 kg of household waste. This means Bebat collects more than 90% of the batteries consumers want to dispose of.

(Bron: https://2022.bebat.be/en)

Bebat in figures
In 2022, Bebat logged:
 * 27,485 collections
 * 24,355 collection points: these include schools, shops, companies or recycling centres.
 * 4,591 participants: Companies can become Bebat participants to easily meet their take-back obligation with minimum fuss.

Education
Bebat is committed to sensitisation. In 2010, Bebat set up Villa Pila, its interactive visitor centre. Villa Pila was developed for pupils from the third to sixth grade of primary school. The children learn all about battery collection and recycling in a playful way.

Bebat is also committed to informing consumers about safety. Bebat’s online platform provides lots of information about how to safely handle batteries and what to do in case of accidents.

Awards

 * 2021: Bronze AMMA Award
 * 2022: Henry van de Velde Award for Business Innovation
 * 2022: Silver IAB Mixx Marketing & Interactive Excellende Award

Eucobat
Bebat is a founding member of the European organisation Eucobat.

Eucobat is the European Association Of National Collection Schemes for batteries. It ensures that all batteries discarded by its members are collected and recycled in an eco-friendly manner. This is how Eucobat contributes to a better environment.

The chairman of Eucobat is Peter Coonen, managing director of Bebat.

External link
Bebat official website