EU urges member states to implement legislation on recycling of spent batteries

BRUSSELS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Friday asked European Union (EU) member states to transpose into national law a revised directive that requires proper recycling of waste batteries.

The 2006 legislation also makes producers responsible for the management of batteries once they become waste.

The revised Batteries Directive should be transposed by member states into national law by Friday. But so far only seven member states have communicated to the commission national legislation which fully transposes the directive. Another four have partially transposed it.

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas asked all EU member states to transpose the legislation without delay.

"The revision of the Batteries Directive represents another important step towards our goal of making Europe into a recycling society. By setting collection targets and requiring recycling, this legislation will also help to protect the health of European citizens and contribute to making consumption and production in the EU more sustainable," he said.

The commission, the executive body of the EU and guardian of EU laws, said it will scrutinize national transposition of the directive and will start infringement action against member states which have not communicated their transposition measures if they do not remedy the situation rapidly