Environmentalists insist: one battery, thrown in the trash, poisons 400 liters of water and about 20 square meters of soil. Zinc, manganese, cadmium, nickel, lead and mercury with water seeps into the ground and even in artesian water. From there these harmful substances to the body fall into the plants and animals that go to our table.
Doctors say, heavy metals tend to accumulate in the body, and even a small concentration is dangerous to health. For example, cadmium blocks the enzymes that affects the liver, kidneys, pancreas, can cause deformation of the bone or lung cancer.
Prevent poisoning of soils and waters can only be addressed with hazardous waste responsibly – sort garbage and recycle batteries, of which, incidentally, can be made alkaline, carbon, zinc and other substances for industrial purposes.

Who collects batteries

“We do not and never existed a state program for the collection and recycling of batteries, – says Eugene Shmurak, chief specialist of the treatment of waste and hazardous substances under the Ministry of Environment, – there were various memorandums between the ministry and the companies, but it had a memorandum of intentions. The main reason – then there is no place to take out the batteries. ” Therefore, in Ukraine are engaged in collecting batteries enthusiasts, environmental organizations and socially responsible business.
The most extensive network of “Batteries, give up!” Dnepropetrovsk organized by NGO “Ekodnepr”. Throughout Ukraine with the help of volunteers opened their 1063 collection points in 22 regions of Ukraine. And the number of the collected batteries are leading major commercial networks, which put collection containers in its stores and malls tinning. According to the manufacturer, processor “Argentum”, the largest number (one ton per month), it delivers one of the largest in Ukraine of networks shops. It is also engaged in collecting batteries Environmental League, Environmental and hundreds of other small local initiatives, up to activists at the entrance level.

Deliver expensive here and keep

All collected batteries, in theory, should be recycled, but they still need to get to the factory, and this additional cost. The head of the movement “Ekodnepr” Love Kolosovskaya tells how they do with the collected batteries:.. “Systemic issues are not resolved within each area is a staging post If volunteers have money – they send them out unto us into the Dnieper, no money – keep at . Now, despite the fact that the project is a volunteer, it cost us about 10 thousand. UAH per month, which we collect in the form of funds and spending on its support (primarily is to rent garages and our work). ”
But the problem of logistics – not only why waste batteries almost no processed in Ukraine, but simply stored.
One plant is almost worth it, the other kept secret
State enterprise, which has the necessary equipment and laboratories, Lviv plant “Argentum”, conducted successful experiments, but now is not recycles batteries, since there is no one to sell the produced commodities. “We produce the active material, which is used in metallurgy Once we send it to our partners Donetsk, but after the events do not work with the East, so sales do not.” – Said the deputy director SOEs Segodnya.ua “Argentum” Taras Kohut.

“Our experimental research line can process 200-250 kg batteries per day This is a small amount, but most of Ukraine and do not need a line now runs from time to time, not to forget how to do it..” – Said the expert. Over the last month, “Argentum” processed only 100-200 kg.
The second company in Ukraine that can recycle batteries, located in the White Church. Ltd. “Ekospetsproekt” buys raw materials for 500 UAH per ton. However, the production area will not let anyone, even ekoaktivistov, because they are afraid of leakage of commercial information. The director of the enterprise Nikolay Gudvyak argues that the market value of its technology – 5 million euros, so he does not want to take risks and to let someone else in the shop.
It is due to the fact that the leadership will not allow the plant, the network coordinators “Batteries, give up” in no hurry. Activists want to make sure with my own eyes: the battery is really fully processed, no chemical element does not fall on a landfill.
whether a license is necessary? No consensus
The Ministry of Environment of Ukraine wary of wishing to recycle batteries. “Argentum” processes, but do not have a license for it. We have often had discussions with them, “- says Shmurak and refers to Article 34 of the Law of Ukraine” On Waste “There really refers to the need to have a license for handling hazardous waste..
However, a few years ago moved the batteries in the classification – ceased to be hazardous waste and household waste started, and this type of activity not licensed, said Belotserkovets Gudvyak. “The batteries are up to 7 amps, both on a laptop or a screwdriver, refer to the general household waste they once considered a semi-industrial, and five years ago they were removed from the list of dangerous and new regulations did not.” – He said.
Taras Kohut of “Argentum” also claims that today no such thing as a license for recycling the batteries in Ukraine does not exist. “Until 2011, it was the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers that the battery recycling is licensed, but in 2012 this decision was canceled after there was no regulatory. (Theme – ed.) Of the document, – the deputy director explains -. And the Ministry of Environment has a very unconstructive position . We could not work if it was illegal. ”
Can you do business on the battery?
Today, recycling of batteries from a commercial point of view, is not profitable occupation. Gudvyak states: “Today, we are able to lose 1 kg of battery is only 40 cents A few years ago it was 15 hryvnia.”. Exit at this result allows sales derived elements, and support for environmentally-responsible partners.
From battery recycling business can be done, if the logistics system to establish, according to Maxim Stec, director of TOV “GTM LTD”, the enterprise which is engaged in energozameschayuschimi technology and processing technology. His company conducted an experiment on processing, but also concluded unprofitable idea. “In Ukraine, a huge number of batteries, these volumes would be enough for an industrial load, but now collect and deliver to the plant is more expensive than processed,” – says entrepreneur

Volunteers collect a ton, but it is 0.01%
According to the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, in 2014 in Ukraine imported 810 tons of batteries 2 and electric accumulators. In storage (hopefully recycled) leave only 0.01%, estimated by experts.
“Batteries, give up!” monthly collect 1 ton of waste batteries, but only during the campaign, volunteers have accumulated 10-20 tons, calculations are carried out today. But this amount is negligible compared with the fact that every day is imported to Ukraine.
New methods for recycling batteries
A reasonable solution would be to give up disposable batteries in general and move to the batteries, which are emitted 10 times less, according to Maxim Tkachenko, Plan-B manager of the new technological solutions for the recycling of batteries. However, while this can only dream of – and dispose of those batteries that have already served their.
“Plan-B is a method for processing at the same time, which is used in Switzerland, – said Tkachenko – only there it’s worth millions of euros, and our equipment is only 300 thousand dollars And our decision to double the energy efficiency and additionally produces nitrogen.. fertilizer processing -. this subsidized business, and our technology is self-supporting in the future it will be possible even to earn on it, but first you need to pass the first stage to talk about it. “.
Tkachenko openly tells how the batteries will be recycled in its design – pyrometallurgical method.
What to do?
In Europe, the cost of the batteries originally laid down a certain amount for the collection and recycling, thus, the principle of “the polluter pays”. That is, buyers have paid in advance for the importer that he then disposing of batteries. These conditions put the manufacturers and importers of batteries Directive 2006/66 / EC.
Ukrainians pay for the same amount, only our batteries no one picks up and processes, experts state.
Love Kolosovskaya considers that quickly and efficiently solve the current situation can be in direct talks with the importers, the way of Ukraine only 5. “Yes, you can make a hand of the law, but it will be a year, but the batteries need to collect now”, – says ekoaktivistka. The goal – to force importers to voluntarily take on the same obligations in Ukraine, which they do in the EU.