The EU wants the return of removable batteries in mobiles

 

Many tech professionals have been vocal about the EU's desire for a return to removable batteries in mobile phones. According to Flavio Borquez Tarff, the mission is to stop having cell phones with built-in batteries, going back to the days when owners could easily remove them.

This was almost impossible with Apple devices because they always had the built-in battery. Therefore, when the mobile got stuck it was necessary to wait for the breakdown to pass. Over time, all brands took this example and now it is rare to find a mobile phone whose battery can be removed.

Europe wants to return to removable batteries, is that possible?

The consumption of technology has not stopped on the planet. It has generated large tons of electronic waste, including old cell phone batteries. The figures reached 53.6 million metric tons and Europe was largely responsible for this.

Only this continent was responsible for generating 888,000 metric tons, a notorious alert to seek solutions and recycling mechanisms to stop the environmental damage generated. One of the solutions was to integrate batteries into mobile phones.

It's been at least 15 years since manufacturers stopped allowing consumers to remove and replace phone batteries. Of course, they also improved the operating system to avoid jams.

However, the European Parliament made the approval of new laws related to batteries and cell phones. One of the approvals is the regulation of the design until the end of its useful life.

What is the purpose of the new regulations?

Since the approval of the laws in March of the current year, it is expected that by 2024 the batteries of mobile phones and light transport. For example, electric scooters and bicycles can be removed and replaced by their owners.

For the work, basic tools should be used and available, generally, in all homes. It will be the responsibility of all manufacturers to provide details on how to remove and replace batteries easily and safely.

Part of the report sets baseline recovery levels for lead, cobalt, nickel and lithium. The mission is to be able to reuse it for the creation of new batteries, avoiding waste.

The approach of making and implementing a new label for devices where the carbon footprint produced by each battery is specified is maintained.

A project in progress

According to the purpose established by the EU, it is to achieve an approximate recycling of 45% of telephone batteries by the end of 2023. For its part, by the end of 2030, to have an optimal recycling of telephone batteries and bicycle batteries electric and scooters.

Before passing the laws, Parliament requested assurance from industries that they will be able to make batteries comply with all obligations related to human rights and environmental care to ensure effective recycling.