Packaging, WEEE and batteries · 18 August 2028 for industrial above 2 kWh, EV and SLI; LMT from 18 August 2033
EU battery recycled content
Documentation from 18 August 2028, minimum recovered shares from 18 August 2031 and higher shares from 18 August 2036.
Key facts
| Documentation | 18 August 2028 for industrial above 2 kWh, EV and SLI; LMT from 18 August 2033 |
|---|---|
| 2031 minimums | 16% cobalt, 85% lead, 6% lithium, 6% nickel |
| 2036 minimums | 26% cobalt, 85% lead, 12% lithium, 15% nickel |
| Portable collection | 63% by 31 December 2027; 73% by 31 December 2030 |
| Exclusion | Industrial batteries with exclusively external storage |
| Last verified | 2026-10-19 |
Documentation first, minimum shares later
From 18 August 2028, industrial batteries above 2 kWh (except exclusively external storage), EV batteries and SLI batteries that contain cobalt, lead, lithium or nickel need documentation of the recovered share per model and per manufacturing plant. LMT batteries follow on 18 August 2033.
The minimum shares start on 18 August 2031: 16% cobalt, 85% lead, 6% lithium and 6% nickel. They rise on 18 August 2036 to 26% cobalt, 85% lead, 12% lithium and 15% nickel.
Collection targets sit behind the numbers
Producer responsibility organisations have to meet portable battery collection targets of 63% by the end of 2027 and 73% by the end of 2030. Collection and recycling efficiency targets also rise over time, including material recovery targets for cobalt, copper, nickel and lead.
For a seller, the practical link is volume reporting: the fee and the national target follow the batteries you place on the market, so under-reporting creates a compliance risk even when the product itself is compliant.
Frequently asked questions
When do the recycled content minimums start?
18 August 2031 for industrial batteries above 2 kWh, EV batteries and SLI batteries: 16% cobalt, 85% lead, 6% lithium and 6% nickel. Higher shares apply from 18 August 2036.
Do LMT batteries follow the same timetable?
No. Recycled content documentation for LMT batteries starts on 18 August 2033, five years after the industrial, EV and SLI documentation date.
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