Annual report
2019

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3,297
Participants
3,624 tonnes
Collected weight
23,514
Collection points
28,915
Collections
67.2%
Collection rate
90%
Collection efficiency

2019: absolute record year

No less than 3,624 tonnes of discarded batteries were collected in 2019, a 13% increase compared to 2018. The collection rate for portable batteries has therefore risen from 61.6% in 2018 to 67.2% in 2019, far above the targets set by the European and Belgian authorities. This makes us the absolute global leader, so we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who returned spent batteries last year.

Part of our success is explained by the fact that Bebat has made collecting batteries as simple and efficient as possible for everyone. Almost 24,000 collection points – 1 collection point per 500 inhabitants – in easily accessible places such as hypermarkets, supermarkets, shops, many schools, companies and recycling centres make it very easy for Belgians to recycle batteries free of charge.

Not only was 2019 a record year in terms of collection, it was also a record year for our participants. We have focused on more simplification. In 2019, we launched an online test that makes it easy for companies to determine whether they should join Bebat. We also paid extra attention to specific target groups, such as the light electric vehicles sector.
The result? In 2019, we counted 3,297 participants, compared to 2,765 in 2018. This represents an increase of no less than 19%, which has also made Bebat a leading European player in this field.

Another important factor is
clear and warm communication. In 2019, we successfully launched 'A Small Gesture', which shows that if each of us makes a contribution – no matter how small – we can achieve great results together. We are using television and radio commercials and we have increased our visibility on social media and in school campaigns to make consumers aware of the need for selective collection, to encourage the return of batteries and to promote the correct use of batteries. For example, the ‘Major Spring Clean’ in Brussels and the 'Wanted' campaign in Flanders were an incredible success. We wish to continue on this path in 2020.

Speaking of
plans for 2020, the current far-reaching coronavirus crisis is obviously also having an impact on our activities. We have limited the collection to those collection points offering essential services. We have also adapted our television and radio commercials by communicating to store batteries at home for the time being. The celebration of our 25th anniversary is put on the back burner and above all we are offering our participants the possibility to defer their payments until after the crisis. Since 7 April, we have resumed collections on a restricted basis and we sort and recycle again, all within the applicable rules in these exceptional circumstances.

Nevertheless, we want to continue to work together with all consumers, participants and partners towards a better environment through continuous recycling improvement in 2020. In doing so, we certainly have to take into account the changing collection flow. The size and power of batteries keep increasing. Their average weight is also going up and the proportion of batteries with a longer operating life continues to grow.

For us, one of the key topics for 2020 is therefore
safety for our collection points, our partners and of course all Belgians. We therefore want to roll out a new and clearly focused safety plan in 2020.

To simplify the collection of
batteries from electric vehicles, we have joined forces with our foreign colleagues to present Reneos, a solution that allows the collection of electric vehicle batteries throughout Europe.

At a European level, we want to actively contribute to
the European battery directive that will be finalised this year. As battery life cycles continue to improve, we want to focus on 'availability for collection'. This allows us to continue to set the bar very high for ourselves and others whilst keeping our activities feasible in the future.  

In 2020 we want to work with all Belgians, participants and partners to collect even more spent batteries safely and to keep improving the way they are recycled for a better environment.

Take care and stay healthy.
#alltogether

Peter Coonen
Managing Director
Yves Van Doren
Chairman

Mission

01
At Bebat we work for a better environment by collecting ever more used batteries and recycling them ever better.
02
We make the collection and recycling process as easy, safe and efficient as possible.
03
We stimulate sustainable use, collection and recycling through a wide-ranging and transparent communication strategy.

Organisation

Bebat is a non-profit association (vzw) established in 1995 by the battery manufacturers to enable companies to meet the take-back obligation.

Bebat gives new life to used batteries and ranks among the world leaders in the collection of used batteries. Used batteries can be handed in at one of 24,000 collection points, convenient and free of charge. Bebat organises their collection as well as the sorting and recycling process.

The governing bodies of Bebat consist of representatives from the following companies, organisations and public bodies:

What does Bebat do for its participants?

1

Report

Registering and reporting the number of batteries brought onto the market.

2

Collection network

Organising and maintaining a nationwide collection network.

3

Raise awareness

Raising consumer awareness and taking preventive actions.

4

Collection objective

Reaching the legal collection targets.

5

Reporting weight

Reporting the collected weight.

6

Recycling correctly

Recycling the collected batteries in the appropriate manner.

7

Recycling efficiencies

Achieving and reporting on the legal recycling rates.

Participants

Total number of participants.
2.216
2017
2.765
2018
3.297
2019
Number of participants to submit a simplified declaration
1.235
2017
1.772
2018
2.336
2019
Number of participants to submit a non-simplified declaration
981
2017
993
2018
961
2019
Number of participants to bring separate batteries onto the market
317
2017
585
2018
789
2019
Number of participants to only bring batteries onto the market that are insalled in a device
1.189
2017
1.248
2018
1.442
2019
Number of participants to bring onto the market both separate batteries and batteries installed in a device
710
2017
932
2018
1.065
2019

Audits

Bebat helps participants meet all legal obligations. We try to make the process as simple as possible and to communicate in a transparent manner.

The audits are key in ensuring that all participants make a fair contribution to the Bebat system. Participants are audited at least once every 3 years.

Full audits
214
Simplified audits
652
TOTAL
866

Batteries brought on the market

* Note: when using the figures: the figures are sometimes rounded to the unit. This may cause discrepancies between the totals displayed and the sum of the individual digits.
Rechargeable versus non-rechargeable
Portable - Industrial - Automotive
Built-in versus replacement market
* Note: when using the figures: the figures are sometimes rounded to the unit. This may cause discrepancies between the totals displayed and the sum of the individual digits.
* Note: when using the figures: the figures are sometimes rounded to the unit. This may cause discrepancies between the totals displayed and the sum of the individual digits.

Conclusion

The number of batteries put on the market in 2019 is up from 18,654,467 (8%) in 2018. This increase is mainly due to alkaline, zinc carbon and lithium primary batteries, but also to lithium rechargeable batteries.

Batteries used to power hybrid, plug-in and electric vehicles, also known as propulsion cars or Electrified Vehicles (EFVs), are up again this year (23%).The increase only occurs in the lithium rechargeable category (47%). The number of newly registered EFV vehicles in 2019 was 45,644, in 2018 this number was 29,549[1]. 73% of the batteries of the newly registered cars were reported to Bebat.

If we look at portable, industrial and automotive batteries separately, we see that they evolve in a different way. Portable, industrial and automotive batteries show an increase, but industrial batteries show the strongest increase (35%) compared to portable (8%) and automotive (1%). Due to the fact that far fewer industrial batteries are marketed than portable batteries, this sharp increase in the number of industrial batteries does not weigh heavily on the total in units and we see an increase (8%) in the aggregated result.

The total weight put on the market increased by 6,058 tonnes in 2019 compared to 2018. This corresponds to a rise of 11%. This is mainly explained by a strong increase in lithium rechargeable propulsion car batteries and lead-acid batteries. The increase in the weight of lead-acid batteries put on the market is caused by industrial lead-acid batteries and automotive lead-acid batteries.

Within non-rechargeable batteries, zinc carbon (7%), alkaline (7%) and lithium primary (29%) rise. Silver oxide (-4%) and zinc-air batteries (-23%), on the other hand, are decreasing. In general rechargeable batteries the weight of nickel-cadmium (-4%) is decreasing while the weight of lead batteries (5%), nickel-metal hydride (13%) and lithium rechargeable batteries (4%) is increasing. There was a rise in the weight of EFV batteries put on the market (99%) compared to 2018. This is due to:

  • An increase in the share of electric vehicles in the number of EFV vehicles;
  • An increasing driving range for EFV vehicles;
  • An increasing number of EFV vehicles other than passenger cars.
[1] Source: Website Statbel - registration of new motor vehicles in 2018 and 2019.
https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/mobility/traffic/registration-motor-vehicles#figures

Collection results

Total collection result in terms of weight (in tonnes)
Collection results portable batteries in terms of weight (in tonnes)
Overall collection results per collection channel (in %)

Overall collection results per collection channel  (in %)

More than 152,000,000 batteries were collected in 2019.The quantity collected in Belgium increased by 13% or 416 tonnes in 2019. This is mainly due to:

  • The continuous raising of public awareness to motivate people to hand in their batteries. This is demonstrated by an increase of 11% in retail, 53% in schools and 8% in recycling centres.

Growth of 13% per year for all regions together and across the canals is exceptionally good. In terms of collection, this year even surpasses the exceptional year of collection 2016 with the particularly successful K3 campaign.

From 2014 onwards, it has been decided to list EFV batteries (batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles) collected from and for car manufacturers separately. In previous annual reports, this figure was included in the ‘companies’ channel’s collection figure.

In 2012 and earlier, the collection of EFV batteries was small and occasional and was not registered separately. In addition, only EFV batteries originating from the Belgian market have been taken into account in this annual report.

The figures below represent the weight of each collection channel, by region and for the whole of Belgium.

In Flanders, companies remain the most important collection channel (34%), followed by recycling centres (24%) and retail (18%). In Wallonia, companies (27%) and recycling centres (25%) are the main collectors in 2019. In Brussels, the main collection channels are retail (31%) and companies (28%).

67.2%
Collection rate 2019 Belgium

According to the legal calculation method in Belgium, 67.2% is the collection rate Bebat achieved in 2019. However, this certainly doesn’t mean that the remaining 32.8% of batteries end up in the environment.

The legal calculation method takes insufficient account of the long life of batteries, which averages 6 years. With 67.2%, Bebat easily meets the legal objective for Belgium and thus outperforms the European target set for 2019 at 45%. Belgium is the clear front runner both in Europe and the world.

>90%
Percentage recycling efficiency

As the legal calculation method does not paint a realistic picture of the actual collection efficiency, Bebat frequently has household waste streams tested for the presence of batteries.

Several studies have shown household waste to contain just 1 battery per 100 kg of waste. This means that Bebat collects more than 90% of the batteries that consumers want to dispose of.

10,850,000
Number of consumer movements

Devices keep getting smaller; as a result, batteries are getting lighter and the average weight of the batteries that Bebat collects keeps dropping.

For Bebat to collect the same weight in batteries, consumers must hand in more batteries and visit a collection point more often. In 2019 we generated over 10,850,000 consumer movements, approximately 1,200,000 more than in 2018.

Recycling

Sorting and processing

What do we sort and which materials can be recovered?

Recovering metals

What can we manufacture with the recovered materials?
=
Tablet
256
used batteries
=
Bike
2,132
used batteries
=
Glasses
13
used batteries
=
Plane
> 500,000
used batteries
=
Tricycle
1,421
used batteries
=
Watering can
120
used batteries

Processing plants

The average Belgian and batteries

  • 2 to 3
    The number of times a year the average Belgian hands in his batteries at a Bebat collection point.
  • 131 batteries
    An average family home contains 131 batteries, 26 of which are empty
  • 22 batteries
    The number of batteries the average Belgian buys every year. 15 are bought separately, 7 are mounted in a device or vehicle.
  • 95%
    Are familiar with the Bebat system.
  • 95%
    Know the Bebat brand as opposed to just 51% in 2010.

Sources:
Declarations of batteries put on market Bebat 2019
Belgian population NIS 01/01/2019
IVOX study 2018 Battery research
Insites 2019 - Evaluation Bebat campaign
IVOX study 2019 - Posttest Bebat campaign

Marketing campaigns

TV campaign figures

Nearly 8 in 10 respondents spontaneously remember seeing the commercial.Upon seeing the commercial, nearly 8 in 10 respondents consider handing in their used batteries at a Bebat collection point.

Almost 7 out of 10 respondents consider this spot to be well made. More than 7 in 10 respondents call themselves a fan of recycling used batteries once they have seen the commercial. More than 7 in 10 respondents call themselves a fan of recycling used batteries once they have seen the commercial. More than 7 out of 10 respondents feel addressed by the message of the commercial. 92% of the respondents think it is clear that this commercial is for Bebat.

Source:
Insites 11/2019

Radio campaign figures

Nearly 8 in 10 respondents spontaneously remember hearing the commercial. Upon hearing this commercial, nearly 7 in 10 respondents consider handing in their used batteries at a Bebat collection point.

65% of the respondents consider this spot to be well made. More than 6 in 10 respondents call themselves a fan of recycling used batteries once they have heard the commercial. Almost 7 out of 10 respondents feel addressed by the message of the commercial. 85% of the respondents think it is clear that this commercial is for Bebat.

Source:
Insites 11/2019

A selection from our campaigns

"Wanted" campaign Flandres

A large-scale collection campaign in Flanders with the theme “Wanted”.

Major spring clean

Bebat and Leefmilieu Brussel - Bruxelles Environnement organised a “major spring clean”.

Nostalgie Magic Tour

A second life in order to surprise underprivileged children

Villa Pila

An educational program “Villa Pila” for schoolchildren from 8 to 12 years old

B2B marketing

Recruit new participants

Prevention tips

Various prevention messages in the main Dutch-language newspapers

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