Chemical limits: Do the EU's new rules on toxic substances at work go far enough?

The dangers posed by lead to human health have been known for decades. While the metal is no longer used in our pipes and petrol, it is still widespread and key to our modern world.

Europe uses millions of tonnes of lead each year to make car batteries, high-voltage cables and insulation for energy-efficient buildings. But what happens when the products containing lead reach the end of their lifespan?

Campine is one of Europe's biggest lead recyclers. The firm repurposes huge amounts of the metal at its sites in Belgium and France every year.

‘’We are recycling about 90,000-95,000 tonnes of lead-containing scraps," Willem De Vos, the CEO of Campine, told Euronews at the company's main headquarters in northern Belgium.

De Vos explained that most of the recycled lead products are car batteries, with the plant recycling around 10,000 units per day. 

Campine plays a vital role in reducing lead waste. Exposure to lead-contaminated soil and water near industrial dumping sites can lead to lead poisoning which can be detrimental, especially if young children are exposed.

"If we didn't recycle these batteries, they would end up somewhere in a dump, which is obviously not good. And by the way, the industry needs lead, so we would need to get it from the mines, either in Europe or outside, which is again, not good for the environment,” De Vos added.

Almost all parts of a lead-acid battery can be recycled, but lead can be released during any stage of the recycling process. While recycling lead is important to meet global demands for refined lead metal, recycling the metal can be a hazardous business and poses clear environmental and health risks.

Consequently, Campine abides by strict safety protocols to ensure the safety of its staff. In