background navigation
Back

Waste management contribution for bicycle batteries declared generally binding

With effect from July 1, 2022, manufacturers and importers of e-bikes and bicycle batteries are obliged to contribute to the collection and processing system for bicycle batteries. From that date, a Generally Binding Declaration (Dutch abbreviation: AVV) applies. The more than 125 businesses that are members of the EPAC Foundation already meet the requirements of the AVV.

According to the Batteries and Accumulators (Management) Decree 2008, all manufacturers and importers who market e-bikes and bicycle batteries in the Netherlands for the first time have a statutory duty and responsibility to take them back and recycle them. To arrange this efficiently – at a reasonable cost level – the manufacturers and importers of e-bikes and bicycle batteries set up a collective in 2015: EPAC Foundation, with the Stibat Services Foundation (Stibat) as implementing organization.

Safe and responsible collection

An effective collection and processing system requires a joint effort. An AVV ensures that every bicycle battery system in the Netherlands is tested against the existing collection and processing system. This ensures that the collection and recycling of bicycle batteries is always done responsibly and that this is reported transparently and unambiguously to the government. If all manufacturers and importers contribute to this, the system will remain affordable.

Generally Binding Declaration

The EPAC Foundation has submitted an application to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management for an AVV for the existing collection and processing system for bicycle batteries. With effect from July 1, 2022, the State Secretary has declared this AVV permanently binding for five years.

Contributing to collection system

All manufacturers and importers who market e-bikes and bicycle batteries in the Netherlands for the first time are obliged to contribute to the costs of the collection and processing system. This will be actively enforced from July 1. Businesses that do not yet contribute to the costs of the system have the option of joining the EPAC Foundation collective. They can contact the implementing organization Stibat about this. Nothing will change for businesses that are already affiliated with the EPAC Foundation. After all, they already meet the requirements of the AVV.

About Stibat

The EPAC Foundation instructs Stibat to implement responsible collection and recycling of bicycle batteries. For more information about Stibat and the AVV, please visit www.stibat.nl.