The European Commission has fined three companies for a total amount of 68 million euros for operating a cartel with the infringement of EU competition law.
From 2009 to 2012, four processing plants took part in the conspiracy to establish fixed prices for the purchase of used lead-acid car batteries in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
The scheme was attended by the company Campine (Belgium), Eco-Bat Technologies (UK), Recylex (France) and Johnson Controls (USA). The American company has avoided penalties as helped to reveal the plot.
Recycling company buy used car batteries (from cars, vans and trucks) from dealers or collectors of scrap.
Processing enterprises disassemble lead batteries and then sell recycled lead, mainly battery manufacturers, who use it to make new car batteries.
Unlike most cartels, where companies collude to increase their selling prices, four processing companies colluded to reduce the purchase price, which was mounted for sellers of scrap.
The European Commission believes that this disrupts the normal functioning of the market and discourages competition.