Recycling batteries

What happens to the batteries?

The increasing number of electric cars on our roads translates to more and more of their batteries being disposed of.

ARN collects both lithium-ion starter batteries and drive batteries. In this careful process, key roles are assigned to safe dismantling, storage, and transport.

Batteries that are still in good condition can get a second life through a specialized company. Other batteries go to a recycling company, which recovers the valuable raw materials.

More information about the ARN Management Plan?
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Car manufacturers

Car manufacturers and importers are required to take back “end-of-life” batteries, but they can delegate this responsibility by participating in the ARN Management Plan.

ARN thus fulfills the producer responsibility for nearly all Dutch car importers and reports annually to the government on the number of collected batteries and the recycling performance. 

The legal recycling requirement of at least 50% of the weight of lithium-ion batteries is more than adequately met.

VIDEO FOR PROFESSIONALS

Battery dismantling and recycling

Watch the video here for professionals on how the dismantling of a battery pack from a discarded car is carried out.
Video for motorists

Battery recycling: how does it work?

Watch the video here to see how the dismantling of a battery pack from a discarded car is carried out.
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Giving batteries a second lease of life

ARN collaborates with partners that have an end-of-waste judgment and can give lithium-ion batteries a new life: EcarACCU and Time Shift energy storage. These are specialized companies that accept the batteries as waste.   

They take on the producer responsibility from the car manufacturer. The discarded batteries are not returned to the auto industry but are repurposed for other applications such as solar energy storage.  

Reuse of batteries also provides a good solution for power supply in remote areas.

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Battery processing

Battery processing is complex. Materials in the battery are separated by methods that include mechanical separation, shredding or hydrometallurgy.  

In the Netherlands, there are no end processors for batteries yet; the discarded batteries are processed in Germany, Belgium, or France.

Download infographic battery recycling
recycling

Starter batteries

Starter batteries, such as lead batteries, are also covered by the ARN Management Plan. They have a positive residual value and their raw materials can be recycled, which is driven by market requirements. For starter batteries, there is mandatory requirement for 65%, by weight, to be recycled. This percentage is easily being exceeded.

ARN

The registration of batteries

All drive batteries and starter batteries are registered through the ARN system. Registration of batteries is done via the portal Mijn Batterij Opgave.

Mijn Batterij Opgave
ARN/STIBAT

Battery collection at dealerships

To responsibly collect batteries for recycling, dealers can use the services of Stibat and ARN. To make it easier for them, we have created an informational brochure.  

It contains information about the collection of different batteries and how a company can properly organize this.

Welcome at ARN!

Join our nationwide network of 238 ARN chain partners and enjoy many benefits immediately.

Find a collection point

Drop off your end-of-life vehicle free-of-charge to a car-dismantling company near you. It will be recycled in an environmentally responsible manner, along with its starter batteries and drive batteries.
Return your car