ITALIAN POSITION ON EU BATTERY DIRECTIVE

UNCLAS ROME 004840

SIPDIS


FOR 4211/MAC/OEURA FOR PENELOPE NAAS, DON WRIGHT, AND LEE
ZACHOS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND ETRD EUN
SUBJECT: ITALIAN POSITION ON EU BATTERY DIRECTIVE

REF: STATE 259043


1. On December 20, Franco Macor of the Italian Mandatory
Consortium for Spent Batteries and Lead Waste (known by the
Italian initials COBAT) responded to reftel request for
information on Italy,s views regarding the EU battery
directive.


2. What is Italy's position on the ban of
lead/cadmium/mercury?

-- Italy is ready to collect, dispose or recycle all kinds
of batteries, but up until now has only had experience with
spent lead batteries, which have been processed with
considerable success. Looking ahead, Macor said that it was
not clear if COBAT would expand operations or the GOI would
create another consortium on the successful COBAT model to
process nickel/cadmium and/or lithium batteries. Italy
favors a ban on mercury batteries, he said.


3. Does Italy have a collection system in place for
batteries?

-- COBAT is a non-profit organization set up by the GOI in
1988 under Law 475 (last amended in 2004). It guarantees the
collection, transportation and recycling of spent lead
batteries in order to recover the lead and sulfuric acid, if
possible. According to law 39/2002 (EEC 2001),(begin quote)
anyone holding spent lead batteries or lead waste is obliged
to consign these to COBAT directly or through subjects
designated by, or authorized by, the Consortium (end quote).
Members of the Consortium consist of manufacturers,
collectors and recycling plants (of which there are six in
Italy). In 2003, COBAT collected more than 200,000 tons, or
3.48 kilograms per inhabitant (one kilogram equals 2.2
pounds). In the course of the activities listed below, the
Consortium contracts with private or public entities to
collect the spent batteries and other forms of lead waste,
appoints geographic area managers in charge of collection,
and promotes public awareness through publicity campaigns.
COBAT operates throughout Italy and carries out the following:

-- Collection and storage of spent lead batteries and lead
waste;

-- Transport of spent lead batteries to recycling firms,
including firms located in foreign countries;

-- Environment-friendly disposal of spent lead batteries if
recycling is impossible or not economically viable;

-- Promotion of scientific and technological research to
develop new disposal and processing methods.


4. What is the position of Italy on collection targets?

-- According to Macor, COBAT boasts almost 100 percent
collection of spent lead batteries. Italy is awaiting EU
decisions before setting targets for the other types of
batteries.


5. What is the position of Italy on the financing of
collection?

-- Producers or importers of batteries must pay a small fee
to COBAT, but they are reimbursed for the expenditure by
their consumers. The fee is 0.83 Euros (one U.S. dollar is
equal to approximately 1.33 Euros) for a small automobile
battery of 20-70 amperes per hour and 1.65 Euros for
batteries more than 70 amperes per hour. COBAT revenues come
from the collection fees and from selling collected spent
batteries to recycling companies. Because of the high market
price for lead, COBAT is currently making money. Since the
Consortium is a non-profit organization, however, Macor
indicated that the collection fee for lead batteries was
likely to be reduced next year.


6. Has Italy formally assessed the impact this directive
will have on domestic appliance and battery manufacturers?

-- Macor was not aware of any study specifically on Italy.
Such a survey would not seem to be too difficult to
undertake, however, as Italy produces mainly lead batteries
for automobiles and not many for other uses, according to
Macor.


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2004ROME04840 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED