Product Take-Back Program and Recycling

In 2012, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to encourage reuse, recycling, and recovery of this waste. The directive also aims to improve the environmental performance of all operators involved in the life cycle of electrical and electronic equipment, especially those dealing with waste equipment.

Member states were required to adopt legislation by February 14, 2014. The regulations apply to all electrical and electronic equipment put on the European Union market after 2005. WEEE products can fall into one of 10 categories according to the WEEE directive. NI products fall under Category 9, Monitoring and Control Instruments. NI actively works with its branch offices and subsidiaries in Europe to fully comply with these regulations as local legislation passes.

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The European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on 12 July 2023 concerning batteries and waste batteries, amending Directive 2008/98/EC and repealing directive 2006/66/EC. This regulation continues the intent of the Battery Directives of reducing the impact on the environment and increasing recycling of batteries.  

This regulation lays down requirements on sustainability, safety, labelling, marking and information to allow the placing on the market or putting into service of batteries within the Union and also lays down minimum requirements for extended producer responsibility, the collection and treatment of waste batteries and for reporting. NI actively works with NI branch offices and subsidiaries in Europe to fully comply with these regulations as local legislation passes.

The labeling of batteries consists of the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol, including the battery capacity, and the chemical symbol for lead, cadmium, or mercury if contained in amounts above the legal threshold limits. The symbol indicates that the batteries used in the product should be disposed of separately from municipal waste. For NI products, the predominant battery type is coin cell, which provides continuous power for constant memory. These batteries are incorporated or embedded into appliances, intended to last for the life of the product, and separated from the appliance during the treatment phase of the appliance as required under the WEEE directive.

Certain NI products are accompanied by removable lead-acid/alkaline batteries that are also for continuous power supply. Please check the product user manual regarding removability.

NI works to ensure proper collection and recycling by joining collection and recycling schemes. The company expects customers in the European Union to use the collection and recycling systems in place and properly dispose of all batteries.

Proper disposal of batteries reduces the environmental impact and risk to human health. For additional information about the potentially harmful effects of substances used in batteries on human health and the environment, visit the US Environmental Protection Agency or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Find information on recycling and collection by country.