Waste collection statistics in Castile-La Mancha: industrial batteries, accumulators and batteries with cadmium

Batteries are devices that allow the obtaining of electrical energy by transformation of chemical energy. Batteries are used in transistors, toys, flashlights, clocks, calculators, etc. Batteries contain some heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium or lead, which are potentially dangerous to health and the environment. In the waste stream of batteries and accumulators, the principle of extended producer responsibility applies. Royal Decree 106/2008 of 1 February 2008 on batteries and accumulators and the environmental management of their waste stipulates that the costs of separate collection, transport, sorting, temporary storage, treatment and recycling of waste batteries and accumulators must be borne by the producers of batteries and accumulators.