Background This project addresses an important environmental concern for human health and safety. Despite the precautions taken by battery breaking organisations to protect workers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), lead, cadmium and acid exposure and dust inhalation does occur, including that caused by lead sludge being transferred across sites on fork lift truck tyres. The long-term effects of such exposure have been well documented, including the detrimental impact on human health. Some member states undertake no end-of-life battery processing, all their waste products are sent to other states for recovery and recycling. The transportation of a hazardous waste such as whole batteries is a potential environmental risk in terms of possible lead and acid contamination. It is easier, cheaper and safer to send separate components produced by this project rather than whole batteries. Objectives This is a demonstration project to automate the breaking of lead acid traction batteries, sealed lead acid standby power batteries and large industrial Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries. These batteries are used throughout the European Union, Accession and candidate countries, with predicted growth in usage of up to 6% over the next three years. Specific objectives are to: - Demonstrate an automated battery breaking system at a scale that will allow evaluation of the technical and economic viability of large-scale introduction. - Demonstrate that by enclosing the process air pollution levels can be reduced by 75%. - Demonstrate a low maintenance clean technology that has a capital cost of below €300,000. - Ensure that the system is flexible and can accommodate projected design changes in feedstocks. - Increase the volume and quality of recovered materials suitable for recycling. - Improve workplace Health and Safety, particularly by reducing primary exposure of workers to lead, cadmium and acid pollutants by up to 80%. - Increase opportunities for SME’s involvement in the industry and improve employment prospects.