The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 states domestic batteries that can be carried by an “average natural person without difficulty” are deemed portable if they are not already classified as automotive or industrial.
Since the battery recycling regulations came into force, Britain has been recycling more portable Lead acid batteries than it produces.
Following a two year consultation period, Government guidance has now changed. From the 1st January 2016, Defra is setting a new weight limit for portable batteries of 4Kg. This will reduce available evidence by over 4,000 tonnes per annum in the UK, just as we hit the 45% threshold for battery recycling.
As a nation, we need to increase the recycling rate of domestic batteries or we risk missing the UK’s recycling target. The initial concern is that the cost of evidence will rise as demand for evidence outstrips supply. Recycled non-lead acid battery volumes have remained steady over the last three years at around 27% of the weight placed on the market. The challenge now is how can we all but double this without a coordinated and sustained effort by producers, retailers and recyclers.
BatteryBack is the UK’s largest collector and recycler of portable batteries as well as Britain’s leading battery producer compliance scheme. Jointly owned by Veolia and WasteCare, BatteryBack is committed to ensuring low cost compliance. Currently BatteryBack have in place over 35,000 collection points throughout the UK.
To find out more visit www.batteryback.org
