Safety Advisory Notes

1. SAFETY
ADVISORY
NOTES
1. Introduction
Eucobat
is
the
European
association
of
national
collection
schemes
for
batteries.
They
assure
that
all
waste
batteries
are
collected
and
recycled
in
an
ecological
sound
way,
and
contribute
this
way
to
a
better
environment.
These
advisory
notes
are
based
upon
the
experience
and
the
best
practices
of
the
members
of
Eucobat,
to
the
best
knowledge
of
the
compliance
organizations.
They
are
subject
of
permanent
evaluation
and
improvement.
These
advisory
notes
do
not
take
into
account
specific
regulations
of
the
different
Member
States,
which
should
always
be
respected
in
the
respective
countries.
2. Classification
of
the
collection
points
For
safety
reasons,
a
distinction
can
be
made
between
following
waste
battery
streams:
• General
battery
mix:
this
mix
corresponds
to
the
average
mix
of
portable
waste
batteries
generated
by
households.
This
battery
mix
represents
a
very
limited
risk.The
main
risk
consists
of
a
short
circuit.
The
consequences
of
short-­‐circuiting
can
become
more
severe
with
an
increasing
share
of
the
high
energy
density
batteries
(in
particular
lithium
and
rechargeable
batteries)
in
the
battery
mix.
At
the
current
level
(e.g.
2-­‐2,5%
of
lithium
batteries
in
the
mix),
no
specific
actions
are
required,
but
its
share
in
the
battery
mix
should
be
analyzed
regularly.
• A
high
concentration
of
the
same
type
of
batteries
or
naked
cells
or
damaged
batteries
(in
particular
Li-­‐Ion
packs,
NiCd
packs,
NiMH
packs,
button
cells,…).
• Damaged
rechargeable
lithium
batteries
over
500g.
As
a
consequence,
the
collection
points
can
be
classified
as
follows:
• General
collection
point:
Here,
a
general
battery
mix
is
collected.
As
a
consequence,
the
risks
are
very
limited.
• Dedicated
collection
points:
these
collect
a
high
concentration
of
the
same
type
of
batteries
or
naked
cells
or
damaged
batteries
(in
particular
Li-­‐Ion
packs,
NiCd
packs,
NiMH
packs,
button
cells,…).
These
waste
streams
require
special
attention
due
to
the
nature
of
their
chemistry,
weight,
design
or
a
combination
of
those
elements.

2. Should
be
considered
as
dedicated
collection
points,
amongst
others:
• E-­‐mobility
retailers
and
repair
centres
(e-­‐bikes,
e-­‐scooters,…)
• WEEE
dismantlers
• DIY
retailers
and
repair
centres
• EEE
afters
sales
services
and
refurbishment
centres
• Municipalities
(for
the
waste
streams
with
a
high
concentration
of
the
same
type
of
batteries)
• Battery
experts
(specialized
wholesalers
or
retailers,
battery
pack
assemblers,…)
• Garages
• Any
organization
with
a
high
concentration
of
naked
cells
(specialized
retailers
and
repair
centres
of
equipment
using
button
cells,…)
• …
This
list
is
exemplary
and
not
exhaustive.
3. Advisory
notes
for
general
collection
points
a. Advice
for
the
compliance
organizations
• Optimize
containers,
taking
into
account
all
legal
requirements
for
storage
and
transport,
including
ADR,
in
order
to
direct
the
end-­‐users
to
the
most
appropriate
collection
point)
.
• Limit
the
size
of
the
opening
on
waste
containers
for
individual
battery
cells,
so
only
portable
batteries
for
household
use
can
be
collected.
• Raise
consumer
awareness
concerning
the
appropriate
collection
points
for
the
different
types
of
batteries
as
well
as
the
awareness
at
collection
points.
Use
appropriate
education
tools
to
raise
awareness
and
keep
children
attitude
within
safety
limits.
b. Advice
for
the
general
collection
points
• Only
collect
portable
batteries
for
household
use
• Only
use
the
container
supplied
by
the
local
Compliance
Organization
• Do
not
store
large
quantities,
according
to
the
instructions
of
the
Compliance
Organization
• Call
the
Compliance
Organization
when
the
containers
are
full
• Do
not
store
under
sunlight
or
near
a
heat
source
• Do
not
store
in
a
humid
place.
Collected
waste
batteries
must
not
be
exposed
to
the
operation
of
water
in
various
states
of
matter,
i.e.
rain,
snow.
If
stored
in
open
space,
keep
a
cover
permanently.
• Keep
an
appropriate
fire
extinguisher
near
the
storage
vicinity.
Research
concerning
best
fire
extinguishing
equipment
is
on-­‐going.
According
to
general
Eucobat
Safety
Advisory
Notes
v4.1
11/09/2012

3. knowledge,
the
use
of
dry
sand
is
appropriate
in
all
cases.
Avoid
the
use
of
water
in
case
of
fire.
• Avoid
the
presence
of
other
type
of
waste,
especially
current
conductive
equipment
or
equipment
which
may
damage
batteries
• Keep
the
container
in
a
space
with
a
certain
level
of
social
control
and
supervision
in
order
to
avoid
abuse
• Keep
the
container
in
a
ventilated
space
4. Advisory
notes
for
dedicated
collection
points
a. Advice
for
the
compliance
organizations
• Optimize
the
container
systems
at
relevant
collection
points,
in
compliance
with
all
applicable
regulations.
• Containers
holding
lithium
batteries
must
be
clearly
labelled
that
they
contain
such
batteries.
• Review
the
instructions
for
the
collection
points
regularly,
and
update
them
when
necessary..
• Raise
the
awareness
at
collection
points
and
the
awareness
of
all
process
chain
participants
b. Advice
for
the
collection
points
• Avoid
any
short
circuit.
This
can
be
achieved
by
different
prevention
measures:
o Pack
individually
each
single
cell.
When
feasible,
use
the
original
packaging.
o Do
not
remove
batteries
from
their
original
(cardboard)
packaging
after
collection.
o Scotch
tape
both
terminals
of
the
waste
batteries.
o Separate
batteries
with
loose
wires
from
others
and
remove
loose
wires
when
possible,
or
put
them
in
a
separate
plastic
bag
• Do
not
store
large
quantities
of
primary
lithium
batteries
in
one
consignment.
• It
is
recommended
that
these
batteries
be
stored
separately
in
a
plastic
drum
and
be
stored
away
from
heat
and
flammable
sources.
• In
order
to
reduce
the
risk
of
fire,
store
temporarily
these
batteries
in
a
small
consignment
using
minerals
like
sand,
vermiculite
as
cushioning
agent
• When
feasible,
store
selective
consignments
of
Lithium
Primary
Batteries
under
controlled
atmosphere
(CO2)
conditions
• Batteries
must
not
be
exposed
to
sudden
impacts
or
high
temperatures.
It
is
recommended
that
handling
be
planned
with
fire/explosion
in
mind.
In
case
of
a
fire/explosion,
consider
the
direction
of
any
thrown-­‐out
burning
lithium
or
other
battery
fragments.
Lithium
reacts
slowly
with
water
in
forming
combustible
hydrogen
gas.
Eucobat
Safety
Advisory
Notes
v4.1
11/09/2012

4. • All
the
employees
should
be
trained
in
handling
lithium
cells.
• If
possible,
consider
targeted
discharge
of
batteries.
• Do
not
store
these
batteries
with
other
flammable
materials
(e.g.
solvent,
paper,
plastic,…).
• A
good
general
fire
extinguishing
agent
is
dry
sand.
• Avoid
contact
with
leaking
or
venting
batteries,
especially
skin
and
eyes.
At
contact
with
spilled
battery
liquid,
rinse
abundantly
with
water.
• Inform
the
local
compliance
organisation
as
soon
as
possible
at
the
occasion
of
any
incident
and
try
to
preserve
the
evidence
as
much
as
possible
without
taking
any
unnecessary
risks.
5. Damaged
lithium
batteries
over
500g
The
ADR
2013
regulation
provides
a
special
provision
for
damaged
lithium
batteries
over
500g.
This
provision
has
already
entered
into
force
in
some
countries
in
2011.
The
transport
of
these
damaged
lithium
batteries
over
500g
is
permitted
only
in
a
packaging
approved
by
the
national
competent
authorities
and
under
the
conditions
defined
by
these
national
competent
authorities.
A
copy
of
the
approval
must
accompany
each
consignment,
or
the
transport
document
must
refer
to
it.
Research
concerning
the
most
appropriate
packaging
for
these
transports
is
on-­‐going.
6. General
remark
The
objective
of
these
advisory
notes
is
to
minimize
the
risks
of
battery
collection
as
much
as
possible.
The
combination
of
different
measures
will
lead
to
a
considerable
reduction
of
risk,
while
the
total
avoidance
of
risks
can
never
be
guaranteed.
Eucobat
Safety
Advisory
Notes
v4.1
11/09/2012