These machines are expected to reach the market fairly soon. The notifying parties consider that there is an economic incentive to develop automatic sorting machines, if only because collection of all types of battery is to be introduced not only in Germany but in other European countries too. The pollutant batteries covered by the first voluntary undertaking are already being recovered, but there is currently no industrial recovery process for the batteries with a low pollutant content which the second voluntary undertaking is to bring into the scheme. After sorting, these batteries are to be stored in special refuse dumps. The battery importers undertake to encourage their foreign suppliers to take similar steps to ensure that the two categories of battery are made easier to distinguish.
Membership is to be voluntary.
Membership is also to be open to participating traders. The foundation is to be subject to public supervision. As with all foundations with their registered offices in Hamburg, the supervisory authority is to be the Land executive, the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The object of the foundation is to organise, supervise and implement the disposal of batteries. Acting on a contractual basis, it will take over from battery manufacturers any obligation to dispose of batteries.