ATB
ATB PowerBattery Solutions
End-of-Life Information
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 Art. 74(1) · ATB-INF-2026-006 · Updated: 2026-09-27 · English
End-of-Life, Take-Back and Recycling Information
Information on the prevention and management of waste batteries — Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Article 74(1), points (a) to (f) · ATB valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries, AGM and GEL ranges
Issued by ATB Power Limited · atbpower.com · info@atbpower.com
This information is provided by ATB Power for end-users and distributors of ATB lead-acid batteries and is accessible through the QR
code marked on the battery. It applies to all ATB valve-regulated lead-acid batteries, AGM and GEL ranges.
aYour role in preventing waste: extending the life of the battery
- Charge it correctly. Use a constant-voltage, current-limited charger with the right profile. Per 12 V battery at 25 °C: AGM float (standby) 13.5–13.8 V, cyclic (boost) 14.4–14.7 V, maximum charge current 0.30 × C₂₀ A; GEL float 13.6–13.8 V, cyclic 14.1–14.4 V, maximum 0.20 × C₂₀ A. Use half these voltages for 6 V batteries and the per-cell figures for 2 V cells. Correct the voltage by −4 mV per cell per °C above 25 °C (+4 mV below). Never use an equalisation charge on a sealed battery.
- Avoid deep discharge and long storage in a discharged state. Recharge promptly after use; in storage recharge before the open-circuit voltage falls below 12.4 V (12 V battery) and at least every six months. Sulphation from prolonged discharge permanently reduces capacity.
- Keep it cool. The best service life is obtained at 20–25 °C. Sustained operation about 10 °C above 25 °C roughly halves float service life.
- Keep connections clean and tight (typical torque: M5 3–4 N·m; M6 5–6 N·m; M8 9–11 N·m) and check float voltage at every inspection. A battery that still delivers more than 80 % of its rated capacity is normally fit for continued service.
- Re-use. A battery removed from equipment in working condition can be tested (open-circuit voltage, capacity) and re-used in a comparable application. Repurposing and remanufacturing are not common practice for VRLA batteries; at end of life the battery is recycled and its lead recovered.
bYour role in separate collection
Under Article 64 of the Regulation end-users must discard waste batteries separately from other waste, including mixed municipal waste, at the
designated separate collection points. Never dispose of a lead-acid battery in household waste, in fire or in water. The crossed-out wheeled bin on the
battery is the reminder of this obligation.
cTake-back and collection points available to you
- Free take-back by the producer. In every EU Member State the producer of the batteries you bought — the company that first made them available in your country — takes back waste industrial and SLI batteries free of charge, without any obligation to buy a new battery (Article 61). Take-back systems cover the whole territory of the Member State.
- Your distributor. Distributors that supply industrial or SLI batteries take back waste batteries of the same category free of charge at or near their premises, without any obligation to buy (Article 62).
- Collection facilities. Authorised waste battery collection points and treatment facilities in your Member State accept lead-acid batteries. Ask your supplier or write to info@atbpower.com and we will direct you to the take-back arrangement for your country.
- Preparation for re-use and treatment. Collected lead-acid batteries are drained of electrolyte, broken and separated; the lead, plastics and sulphuric acid are recovered or neutralised in permitted facilities. The Regulation requires recyclers to achieve a recycling efficiency of at least 75 % by weight for lead-acid batteries from 31 December 2025 (80 % from 2030) and to recover at least 90 % of the lead from 31 December 2027 (95 % from 2031) — Annex XII, Parts B and C.
dSafety when handling waste batteries
- Keep waste batteries upright, in a dry, ventilated place, away from heat and ignition sources; do not stack them loosely or store them with metal parts.
- Prevent short circuits: cover or tape the terminals, remove metal jewellery, use insulated tools. A discharged battery still stores dangerous short-circuit current.
- Do not open, drill, crush, incinerate or attempt to repair the battery. Do not heat above 60 °C.
- A cracked or leaking case exposes dilute sulphuric acid: wear eye protection and acid-resistant gloves, neutralise spills with sodium bicarbonate, collect the residue for treatment, and pack the battery in a leak-proof container marked for disposal.
- Charging or fault conditions can release hydrogen: keep flames and sparks away and ventilate.
- ATB lead-acid batteries contain no lithium. Do not mix them with lithium batteries in collection containers.
eMeaning of the labels and symbols
| Symbol / text | Meaning |
|---|
| Crossed-out wheeled bin | Separate collection: do not discard with other waste; return to a collection point (Article 13(4)). |
| Pb | The battery contains more than 0.004 % lead (Article 13(5)). |
| CE | The manufacturer declares conformity with Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. |
| QR code | Access to the label information, the EU declaration of conformity and this document (Article 13(6)). |
| Rechargeable Sealed Lead-Acid Battery · Designed for industrial use | Chemistry and battery category (SSL start-stop batteries are SLI batteries). |
| Voltage · Ah @ 20-hr / 10-hr rate · Weight | Nominal voltage, rated capacity and weight. |
| Fire Extinguishing Agent: ABC | Use ABC dry powder or carbon dioxide; never a direct water jet. |
| Warning: risk of fire, explosion or burns … | Principal safety warnings. |
| NONSPILLABLE | Electrolyte immobilised; not subject to dangerous goods regulations for transport when terminals are protected. |
The full explanation of every mark is given in the ATB document Label and Marking, ATB-INF-2026-005.
fSubstances in the battery and their impact if discarded improperly
- Lead and lead compounds (plates and active material) are toxic, accumulate in the body and the environment, damage the nervous system, blood and kidneys and are toxic for reproduction. Lead released from a discarded battery contaminates soil and groundwater for a long time.
- Dilute sulphuric acid (electrolyte, absorbed or gelled) is corrosive, causes severe burns, and acidifies soil and water when released.
- Littering, incineration or disposal as unsorted municipal waste releases these substances; separate collection and recycling keep them in a closed loop, recover the lead and plastics, and avoid emissions from landfill or incineration.
Contact: ATB Power Limited · atbpower.com · info@atbpower.com. Safety data sheet and operating manual: atbpower.com/resources.