News
16/04/09 Waste Batteries Legislation UPDATE
16-04-2009 15:24:41
New regulations with regards to recycling waste batteries and accumulators were announced in Parliament on 14th March 2009.
The Government has produced regulations that clearly define the legislative framework for the collection, treatment and recycling of waste batteries and accumulators in the UK.
The Regulations implement the previous waste provisions of the Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators Directive. They establish and outline the scope of producer responsibility in the UK.
Producers will have to meet their responsibility for collection and recycling by joining a Battery Compliance Scheme. Such schemes will be approved by the relevant environment agencies throughout the UK. Each Scheme will also carry out targeted publicity aimed at consumers, informing them how they can return their waste household batteries for recycling. Producers who provide less than one tonne of portable batteries for the market will register with the environment agencies but will not have to fund collection, treatment and recycling themselves. From February 2010, shops that sell more than 32 kilos of portable batteries will be legally obliged to collect these batteries in-store, when they become waste. The Regulations will come into force on 5th May 2009 and the first compliance period will start 1st January 2010. During the remainder of 2010, potential Battery Compliance Schemes will apply to the environment agencies, recruit battery producers and set up collection and recycling arrangements.
There will also be a ban on the disposal of automotive batteries by landfill or by incineration from 1st January 2010.
