European Commission updates EU List of Waste with new battery-related waste codes (including hazardous classification for “black mass”)

The European Commission announced an update to the EU List of Waste introducing new battery-related waste codes spanning manufacturing waste, post-consumer battery waste, and intermediate recycling fractions. The update clarifies/classifies “black mass” as hazardous waste and classifies several battery chemistries (including lithium-, nickel-, zinc-based; sodium sulphur; alkaline waste batteries) as hazardous, including adding a new hazardous code for lithium-based batteries in separately collected municipal waste. This affects waste classification, handling, storage, and cross-border shipment compliance (e.g., documentation and shipment controls) for battery producers, collectors, recyclers, and logistics providers supporting EU Battery Regulation circularity requirements.