The sharp increase in the number of fires resulting from the ignition of (lithium-ion) batteries and accumulators among regular scrap metal is leading more and more (metal) recycling companies to include penalty clauses.
In the MRF board's opinion, this measure is unfortunately unavoidable. Each company naturally decides on its own purchasing conditions and acceptance policy. But the more companies in the chain introduce such a policy, the more effective. Therefore, an urgent advice to all members: seriously consider introducing such a policy. Disposers and suppliers should be more alert to the presence of lithium-ion batteries in particular. Many millions of such batteries are already in use and this number is expected to increase by at least a factor of 14 in coming years.
Many of these batteries and the products containing them were not kept separate and handed in, but end up in regular scrap or residual waste.
Negative consequences
The fires have huge consequences. Direct damages, increased insurance premiums (and increased deductibles) and investments in prevention, detection and suppression. Problems with municipality and province. And last but not least: the safety risks for colleagues and local residents.
Penalty clause
We can create a barrier, if the entire chain introduces a penalty clause when batteries are found among the scrap (with the exception of separately delivered batteries/batteries and/or e-waste). This can be done by sending a letter/email to your suppliers, in which you
with -if desired- the above-mentioned arguments. The message itself need not contain more than:
From 01-06-2023, we will deduct an amount of €25.00 for every (li-ion) battery/battery encountered. Separately returned e-waste and batteries/batteries are excluded from this.
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