The European Commission has rolled out comprehensive new regulations to overhaul the continent’s approach to waste battery recycling. Effective from 24 July 2025, these rules aim to enhance material recovery, minimise waste, and secure access to critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are vital for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. This shift underscores a significant change in perspective: batteries are no longer disposable power sources but valuable resource hubs that can drive a circular, resilient, and competitive economy.
Batteries are pivotal to Europe’s green transition, powering electric vehicles and storing renewable energy, while supporting the EU’s climate neutrality goal by 2050. However, increased battery reliance has exposed the urgent need to secure critical raw materials. The Commission’s new rules ensure efficient recovery and reuse of these materials, reducing dependency on third-country imports and bolstering the EU’s strategic autonomy.
The new framework establishes harmonised methodologies for calculating recycling efficiency and material recovery rates across all major battery types—lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, lithium-based, and others. By enforcing consistent calculation methods and documentation formats, the regulation aims to prevent unfair competition in the secondary raw materials market, where data inconsistencies have previously hindered progress.
As outlined in Annex XII of the Batteries Regulation, recyclers must meet specific recycling efficiency targets by 31 December 2025: 75% for lead-acid batteries, 65% for lithium-based batteries, 80% for nickel-cadmium batteries, and 50% for other batteries. These targets will rise by 2030, with lithium-based battery efficiency targets increasing to 70% and lead-acid to 80%. Material recovery targets are equally ambitious: by 2027, 90% for cobalt, copper, lead, and nickel; 50% for lithium. By 2031, these targets increase to 95% for cobalt, copper, lead, and nickel; 80% for lithium. These targets reflect the EU’s commitment to closing the loop on battery materials and reducing waste through efficient reuse.
Beyond environmental benefits, enhancing material recovery is a strategic imperative. As the global race for raw materials intensifies, Europe’s ability to recycle and retain valuable resources domestically is crucial for industrial resilience and supply chain security. Improved battery recycling infrastructure reduces reliance on volatile international markets and drives innovation and job creation in the green tech sector.
Developed with input from the Joint Research Centre and key stakeholders, this delegated act represents a major step in Europe’s battery policy. As implementation nears, the EU positions itself at the forefront of sustainable battery use, transforming waste into value and material recovery into a cornerstone of its circular economy.
This regulatory overhaul could significantly reshape the battery recycling sector, fostering innovation and investment in recycling technologies. It may also spur competition among recyclers to meet the ambitious targets, potentially leading to advancements in recycling efficiency and material recovery rates. Moreover, the harmonised guidelines could facilitate cross-border collaboration and standardisation, creating a more integrated and resilient recycling market within the EU. As the green transition accelerates, these rules could set a precedent for other regions, influencing global battery recycling standards and practices.