Will the European Union introduce a deposit on batteries? Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in refuse trucks, sorting plants and waste storage facilities have prompted several Member States to call for EU action, and the European Commission has committed to assessing a deposit system.

Austria's call at the EU Council

At the Environment Council meeting on 16 December 2025, Austria, supported by Germany and Lithuania, drew attention to the growing number of fires in waste management facilities caused by lithium-ion batteries and called for action at EU level.

The European Waste Management Association FEAD strongly endorsed this call. FEAD advocates stronger extended producer responsibility and better collection of waste batteries, and welcomed the Commission's commitment to assess a deposit system for batteries, which the Commission is to carry out by the end of 2027.

Where do the fires come from?

A lithium-ion battery thrown into mixed waste or the wrong bin can be crushed or punctured. A damaged cell may short-circuit internally and go into thermal runaway, which can ignite the entire load. We described the scale of the problem in our article on lithium-ion battery fires in waste management, and you can learn how to deal with a burning cell in our guide on how to extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire.

What could a deposit system change?

A deposit gives users a financial incentive to return a spent battery to a collection point instead of throwing it in the bin. Experience with deposit systems for packaging shows that such a mechanism can significantly increase collection rates. For the waste sector, this would mean fewer batteries in the mixed waste stream and therefore a lower fire risk.

Regardless of future regulation, collected batteries require proper storage and transport and must be sent for recycling. Wastes Service Group helps companies and municipalities manage waste batteries safely. Contact us to find the right solution.