Hazardous waste
and batteries

Hazardous waste arises in all economic sectors, as well as in private households in the form of problematic substances. Quantitatively the most relevant amounts of hazardous waste in Austria stem from soil remediation, the metal industry and the chemical industry.

Batteries and accumulators or used batteries and accumulators contain one or more galvanic cells, which consist of electrodes and electrolytes, as well as housing made of metal and/or plastic. Depending on the type of battery, they contain high percentages of lead, iron, manganese, nickel, zinc, cadmium and graphite.

Lithium and mercury are also present, in the low percentage range. Plastic parts can total up to 10%. For example, potassium hydroxide, ammonium chloride or sulfuric acid are used as electrolytes as well as organic or inorganic electrolytes (e.g. propylene carbonate, thionyl chloride) in the case of lithium batteries. (BAWP 2017)