Waste batteries: the recycling targets remain “fit for purpose” according to the Commission

The current EU targets for battery recycling efficiency and material recovery set out in the Batteries Regulation remain appropriate, according to a report adopted by the European Commission on 11 September 2026.

Under the Regulation, the Commission was required to assess “whether market developments, technological change, the availability of key raw materials and scientific and technical progress justified revising the targets”.

In particular, the assessment, supported by the JRC, examined developments in battery technologies and the existing and forecast availability of cobalt, copper, lead, lithium and nickel, the Commission said.

According to the report, “the current targets strike an appropriate balance between ambition and feasibility. They support the transition to a circular economy…