US embassy cable - 04ROME4840

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. 
 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2004ROME04840 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED