UK PLAYS CATCH UP ON BATTERIES RECYCLING

The Government is seeking views on implementing the EU Batteries and Accumulators Directive, which requires the UK to reach collection and recycling targets for portable batteries currently only seen in Countries such as Belgium and Sweden.  While the UK collects almost all automotive batteries for recycling, only 3% of portable batteries are collected for recycling and Government estimates that 700 million batteries are landfilled annually.

The consultation considers how producers can meet their obligations under the Directive most efficiently, with responsibility for implementation split between Defra (for portable batteries) and BERR (industrial/automotive). Defra would appear to face the greater challenge in determining a sustainable collection infrastructure for waste portable batteries. 

The consultation seeks methods for achieving:

• Collection targets for waste household batteries of 25% of sales by 2012, rising to 45% by 2016;

• Prohibition on household batteries with high levels of cadmium (with some exceptions) and continued restrictions on use of mercury;

• Clearer labelling with capacity, chemical symbol and “wheelie bin” collection symbols;

• Various producer responsibilities, including a ban on disposal of industrial and automotive batteries in landfill or by incineration (in effect a 100% recycling target);

• Responsibility for producers of appliances to ensure batteries can be readily removed for easy collection, treatment and recycling;

and,

• Responsibility for retailers to take back waste household batteries at no charge to consumers.

As with the WEEE Directive, the relationship between portable battery producers and local authorities is likely to be crucial.  Producers are required to finance the net costs of collection, treatment and recycling of all separately collected waste portable batteries.  However, in order to capitalise on existing infrastructure, such as kerbside collection schemes, bring schemes and HWRCs, effective cooperation with local authorities will be essential. 

For waste portable batteries, the consultation paper presents a number of alternative scenarios based on the compliance scheme concept.  Meanwhile, views are sought on two options presented for spent industrial batteries and two options for automotive batteries.

Note: Further background  http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file43214.pdf and http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/page43278.html