A distributor sells lithium forklift packs to warehouses. A customer asks what happens when packs reach end of life, who must collect them, and how they should be stored and shipped until then.
In many markets, the company that places batteries on the market carries producer responsibility: it must register, finance or arrange collection and recycling, and report volumes. End users must store used packs safely and hand them to a licensed collector or recycler. Used lithium packs are usually dangerous goods in transport. Rules differ by country, so check your market’s requirements and agree in the contract who collects packs and who pays.
Who usually does what
- Producer or importer. Registers with the national scheme, organises or finances take-back and recycling, and reports quantities.
- Distributor. May have take-back duties or support customers in returning packs.
- End user. Stores used packs safely, does not dispose of them as general waste, and hands them to a licensed collector.
- Recycler. Recovers materials and provides records of treatment.
Storing and moving used packs
- Store in a dry, marked area away from heat, with terminals protected.
- Separate damaged packs and follow special handling rules for them.
- Used lithium packs usually travel as dangerous goods, with packaging and paperwork to match; see our shipping article.
Questions to settle
- Who is the producer in each market, and is it registered?
- Who collects packs at end of life, and who pays?
- What records will the recycler provide?
- Can some packs be reused or repurposed before recycling?
In the EU, the Battery Regulation adds producer responsibility and recycling targets; see our EU Battery Regulation article. Redway’s recycling and sustainability page gives background.
Planning ahead
Redway forklift packs list a 5-year design life and about 4000 cycles, with 3 years of technical support, so plan end-of-life handling in the original contract rather than when the first pack retires.
Risk limits
This is a general overview, not legal advice. Rules, schemes and fees vary by country and change over time. Check your local requirements with an adviser or the national scheme.
Additional perspectives
Put end-of-life terms in the sales contract. Customers ask about it more often now, and a clear answer helps close the sale.
Redway Tech Editorial Team – Distributor perspective
Keep the recycler’s treatment records with the asset register. They show that each pack was handled correctly.
Redway Tech Editorial Team – Environmental manager perspective
Plan transport for used packs before you need it. Dangerous goods carriers and packaging take time to arrange, especially for damaged packs.
Redway Tech Editorial Team – Logistics lead perspective
Specifications are taken from Redway product pages as of October 2026. Where a figure isn’t published, this article says so. Confirm current specifications for your model with Redway before ordering. This article is general guidance, not a site-specific engineering assessment.
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