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Batteries and Accumulators – collection and recycling

BIS is the lead Government Department for the implementation of the Batteries Directive (2006/66/EC). This Directive and the UK Regulations that transpose it affect the way that batteries are designed and manufactured, and the way that they are collected and treated when they become waste.

Overview

The Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators Directive (2006/66/EC) aims to improve the environmental performance of batteries and accumulators and minimise the impact that waste batteries and accumulators have on the environment. The Directive places requirements on the design of all new batteries, and requires the separate collection, treatment and recycling of waste batteries and accumulators, reducing the disposal of batteries and accumulators in the municipal waste stream.

Key requirements of the Directive include:

Restrictions on the use of cadmium and mercury in the design and manufacture of new batteries (subject to exemption and review).
Labelling requirements – all new batteries to be marked with a crossed out wheeled bin symbol and the appropriate chemical symbol where applicable. Selected types of battery are also required to have a capacity label.
Registration of all ‘producers’ e.g. manufacturers or importers of batteries.
Collection targets for waste portable batteries of 25% of average annual sales in the UK by 2012, rising to 45% in 2016.
A ban on the disposal of untreated automotive and industrial batteries.
A requirement for ‘producers’ or third parties acting on their behalf to arrange for the collection and recycling of waste industrial and automotive batteries.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is the lead UK Government Department for the Batteries Directive – specifically, BIS leads on the Internal Market (or design) provisions of the Directive, and the environmental provisions of the Directive with respect to waste industrial and automotive batteries. Defra leads on policy relating to the waste provisions of the Directive with regards to waste portable batteries. There are two sets of UK regulations; the 2008 Regulations deal with internal market aspects, whilst the 2009 Regulations address waste battery collection and recycling issues.

Am I affected?

The UK Batteries Regulations place legal obligations on:

Producers of batteries and products that contain batteries.

Distributors (retailers) of batteries.

Facilities that treat and/or export waste batteries, including products that contain waste batteries.

The requirements apply to all businesses irrespective of size. However, there are some differences in obligations, depending upon the quantity and type of batteries that a business puts on the market or distributes. The Regulations also have some impact upon consumers and local authorities (when they deal with waste batteries).

BIS/Defra have produced detailed guidance to help you determine whether the Regulations affect you and what you should do if you have obligations.

Further information on policy relating to waste portable batteries, portable Batteries Compliance Schemes and distributor take-back requirements and can be found on Defra’s website here.

The Environment Agency also offers guidance on battery producer registration and associated collection obligations. It also provides guidance for waste battery treatment facilities and exporters.

In addition, further advice to business is available at Business Link.

Consumer information

Advice for consumers is available at Directgov.

Latest developments

Details of the Commission Regulation setting out the rules for capacity labelling of portable secondary and automotive batteries can be found on the European Commission web site.