About batteries

Batteries and accumulators are any source of electrical power obtained by the direct transformation of chemical energy, consisting of one or more non-rechargeable primary cells or one or more rechargeable secondary elements.

When incorrectly disposed of, used batteries and accumulators are a hazard to the environment and human health due to their composition, which includes toxic and bioaccumulative elements. Due to the need to mitigate the impact of these elements, batteries and accumulators are covered by the Principle of Extended Producer Responsibility.

Types

Batteries and accumulators are divided into two types and, within these, into different chemical systems.

Type 1

Portable batteries and accumulators

Any battery, button cell, cell battery or accumulator that is hermetically sealed, can be carried by hand and is not an industrial battery or accumulator, nor a battery or accumulator for motor vehicles, namely batteries consisting of a single element. AA and AAA batteries, as well as batteries and accumulators used in mobile phones, laptops and notebooks, cordless power tools, toys, and household appliances.

Portable batteries and accumulators chemical systems:

Alkaline, Button, Lead-Acid, Lithium Ion, Lithium, NiCd, NiMH and Zinc-Carbon

Type 2

Industrial batteries and accumulators

Batteries and accumulators designed exclusively for industrial or professional use that are placed directly on the market or incorporated into electrical and electronic equipment. Batteries or accumulators used as an emergency or back-up power source in hospitals, airports or offices, or designed exclusively for portable payment terminals in stores and restaurants and for barcode scanners in stores, those used in instrumentation or in other types of measuring apparatus, and those used in connection with renewable energy applications such as solar panels.

Industrial batteries and accumulators chemical systems:

Lead-Acid, Lithium Ion and NiCd

Composition of batteries and accumulators

Batteries contain various raw materials and are nearly 100% recyclable, which means that, when sent correctly for recycling, they can give rise to a new battery.

Battery

30 Zn Zinc

It is a transition metal used in the manufacture of metal alloys and also in the production of batteries.

82 Pb Lead

It is a representative, toxic metal, used mainly in the production of batteries and accumulators.

25 Mn Manganese

It is a transition metal used in the production of metal alloys and batteries.

Batteries in numbers

Batteries collected by Electrão in 2023

1 227 tons

Which is equivalent, on average:

to 118 batteries

disposed of in Ponto Electrão per person in Portugal.

Decomposition of a single battery

100 years

Time it takes to decompose in the environment, releasing all toxic elements in the process.

Greenhouse gas emissions

-50%

From a lithium-ion battery when recycled materials (aluminium, etc.) are used instead of virgin raw materials

CO2* avoided

157 tons

Through the recycling of batteries by Electrão in 2023.

Equivalent to:

7 850 trees **

Planted.

* Waste and carbon equivalent allocations have been estimated by direct application of the quantities collected.

** Number of trees that would allow the capture of equivalent CO2

Estimated number that each Portuguese family has at home

80 batteries

Batteries are

99%

recyclable