INOBAT system.

On behalf of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), INOBAT ensures the collection, management and use of the prepaid disposal fee, which consumers pay within the retail price when purchasing batteries and accumulators.

The story

In 1986, the Environmentally Hazardous Substances Ordinance came into force. Due to the heavy metals contained in batteries, manufacturers, importers and distributors are obliged to take back used batteries and ensure an environmentally friendly disposal.

Here is a video on BATREC’s role in the INOBAT system: Battery recycling in Switzerland

The Swiss system

One of the local authorities’ main goal is that 80% of batteries sold in Switzerland are returned by consumers for recycling. The recovery rate increased from 60% to over 70% between 2001 and 2009. Since then, it has stagnated, or even declined slightly at times. This decline is linked to the strong growth of lithium-ion batteries which have a longer lifetime.

Battery recycling

BATREC recycles different types of batteries, including consumer, portable, bicycle, etc. batteries.

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