Ministers Brouns and Coppieters discover innovations in battery recycling

Tienen - 27 November 2025 - Bebat and its subsidiary Sortbat welcomed Ministers of Environment Jo Brouns and Yves Coppieters for a visit to their facilities in Tienen.

Thanks to Bebat’s longstanding efforts, Belgium is among Europe’s frontrunners in battery collection. Our country will be one of the first member states to reach the ambitious European collection target for 2027 — namely 63% — already in 2025. During their visit, the ministers focused on two key pillars of the Belgian battery chain: education and technological innovation in support of reuse and recycling.

Xbat.ai takes battery sorting to the next level

The ministers visited Sortbat, Bebat’s operational subsidiary specialized in sorting used batteries. They were introduced to Xbat.ai, the new automated sorting line developed in collaboration with VITO (the Flemish Institute for Technological Research). This innovative installation combines AI with X-ray vision technology to identify and sort batteries faster and more accurately. The new sorting line enhances safety - especially for lithium-ion batteries - and optimizes the recovery of critical metals, an important step toward a more efficient circular economy.

“Xbat.ai shows how collaboration between research and industry leads to sustainable innovation. This technology, developed in cooperation with VITO, proves that economic ambition and environmental awareness can go perfectly hand in hand,” stated Jo Brouns, Flemish Minister of Environment and Agriculture. “This visit demonstrates the added value of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems in ensuring a safe solution for waste streams. Batteries that end up in the wrong waste category pose a danger. Separate collection, proper sorting, and raising awareness – and reuse and recycling wherever possible – are essential, and Bebat makes an important contribution on all these fronts.”

Sortbat also highlighted its expertise in the dismantling of large batteries from electric vehicles. This process is essential to enable the safe reuse of batteries or, when they reach end of life, to recycle them efficiently.

Villa Pila: engaging young people in the circular economy through play

The ministers also visited Villa Pila, Bebat’s interactive experience trail for pupils from the third to the sixth year of primary school. Through touchscreens, interactive modules, and dynamic videos, children can explore the full life cycle of used batteries — from collection to recycling — in an accessible and engaging way.

Each year, thousands of pupils discover how they can give batteries a second life and develop sustainable environmental awareness.

Two ministers, one shared vision for the batteries of tomorrow

With this joint visit, Jo Brouns and Yves Coppieters underlined the need for interregional cooperation to address the growing challenges of battery use: safety, collection, recycling, innovation, and the sustainable supply of strategic metals.

“The visit of both ministers confirms the growing importance of batteries in the energy transition, as well as the leading role that Belgium — and companies like Bebat — play in collection, sorting, reuse, recycling, and innovation,” emphasized Peter Coonen, CEO of Bebat.
“The fact that both ministers wanted to discover our educational approach as well as our technological innovations is a strong signal: the future of batteries relies on the complementarity between awareness-raising and innovation.”

Thanks to these joint efforts, Belgium — through Bebat — will be one of the first European countries to achieve the ambitious European collection target of 63% for 2027 already in 2025, two years ahead of the deadline.