‘Celebrating 25 Years of ECOPILAS: Spain’s Battery Recycling Pioneer’

ICM: How did ECOPILAS start 25 years ago?
José Pérez García: ECOPILAS was founded within the framework of a business association known as ASIMELEC, which brought together the main companies in the Spanish electronics sector.  In response to Spanish regulations that established specific obligations for the recycling and treatment of batteries, a group of battery manufacturers and importers formed a specialized working group within the association. This initiative eventually led to the formal establishment of the ECOPILAS Foundation as the legal entity representing the forthcoming SCRAP (Sistema Colectivo de Responsibilidad Ampliada del Productor).

ICM: What is the scope of ECOPILAS today?
José Pérez García: In fact, ECOPILAS was originally founded through the initiative of primary battery producers. Over time, it expanded to include rechargeable batteries, such as nickel-cadmium, lithium, and others. Today, we can confidently state that ECOPILAS covers all categories and chemical families of batteries.

ICM: How has your activity changed over the years?

José Pérez García: The battery market is clearly not what it was 25 years ago, and technology has changed drastically since then. At that time, lithium was virtually nonexistent, and electric mobility was almost nonexistent in a market dominated by alkaline and lead-based batteries. As a result, we’ve had to continually adapt to this evolving reality and the new waste flows that have emerged. New players, new channels, and new treatment technologies – it’s been an exciting challenge of adaptation.

ICM: What are you most proud of in 25 years of activity?

José Pérez García: Essentially, what makes me most proud is having established ECOPILAS as the leading and most important battery recycling system in Spain. It’s impossible to capture all the achievements that fill us with pride—such as the country’s largest collection network, the tons of batteries recovered, and our strong presence in both public institutions and the media. However, what I’m most proud of is having built a team of exceptional professionals who are deeply committed to the goals of ECOPILAS.

ICM: What are your targets/ambitions for ECOPILAS for the next 25 years?

José Pérez García: Our main goal is, of course, to preserve what we’ve already achieved, which is no easy task, while also expanding on activities we’ve recently started, such as our involvement in European projects through our management platform, RECYCLIA. Currently, we are working on five projects, and two more have been granted to us in the past year. Most of these focus on various aspects of lithium treatment, including safety, transportation, commercialization, and more. It’s a recent line of activity, and we’re very excited about it.

ICM: You are partnering with ICBR 2025 in Valencia in September this year, why is it important for you to be there?

José Pérez García: As we all know, ICBR is one of the most important battery congresses in Europe and worldwide. We’ve always believed that, and our long-standing collaboration and participation in every edition is proof of our commitment. Over the years, the congress has provided us with valuable learning through its sessions and the exchange of experiences. This year, in addition to these reasons, there is a special one—our anniversary. The ICBR congress in Valencia will give us the opportunity to share and celebrate this commemoration with the entire community of stakeholders involved in the congress.