With the terms “battery” and “accumulator” the Legislative Decree 188 of November 20, 2008 indicates a source of electricity obtained by direct transformation of chemical energy, consisting of one or more primary elements (non-refillable) or consisting of one or more secondary elements (refillable). The entire section of batteries and accumulators is divided into three types:
- Batteries or accumulators for vehicles: the batteries or accumulators used for starting, lighting and ignition;
- Industrial batteries or accumulators: the batteries or accumulators exclusively for industrial or professional use, or used in any type of electric vehicle
- Portable batteries or accumulators: the batteries, button cells, battery packs or accumulators which are sealed, are transported by hand and do not constitute neither industrial batteries or accumulators, nor batteries or accumulators for vehicles.
The distinction occurs also on the basis of the composition (lithium, alkaline, zinc air, silver zinc, carbon zinc, zinc chloride, lead, nickel cadmium, michel metal hydrides).
For each of these categories, is foreseen the separate collection with treatment, recycling, recovery and disposal processes to avoid that the polluting substances, of which the batteries and accumulators are composed can be dispersed into the environment, damaging it and also damaging health.