Battery Recycling in the UK: Compliance, Collection, and a Circular Future with Wastecare

Each year in the UK, thousands of tonnes of used batteries are discarded. Many end up in landfill, where they pose serious environmental risks and fire hazards.

Batteries contain hazardous substances like lithium, lead, and mercury. If disposed of incorrectly, they can contaminate soil and water or ignite fires during waste processing. Wastecare is committed to preventing these risks by offering a safe, compliant, and nationwide battery recycling service.

Wastecare is the UK’s largest collector and recycler of waste portable batteries. We recycle more than 60 percent of all portable batteries collected nationwide, each year.

Through our Battery Producer Compliance Scheme, we help manufacturers, importers, and retailers meet their obligations under the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations. Our service is transparent, cost-effective, and fully compliant.

We currently operate:

• Over 30,000 active battery collection points
• A dedicated portable battery recycling facility with 25,000 tonnes of annual capacity

Wastecare offers free battery collections across the UK, subject to a minimum volume of 40kg per collection. This service is available to retailers, workplaces, local authorities, and other qualifying sites.

Collection containers come in various sizes to suit countertop, retail floor, or industrial use. Once batteries are collected, they are transported to one of our regional depots, bulked into larger shipments, and processed at our Halifax facility.

There, batteries are sorted by chemistry using manual and automated systems before being sent for recovery and recycling. Materials such as steel, nickel, manganese, and lead are recovered and used in industries including automotive, construction, and electronics manufacturing.

To ensure safety during storage and collection, we advise that:

• Lithium-based batteries have their terminals insulated
• Batteries are kept dry, away from heat and combustibles
• Damaged or leaking batteries are not placed in collection containers
• Containers are only used for batteries and not other waste types

A fire risk assessment must be updated to include battery storage protocols.

Recycling batteries not only prevents pollution but also conserves valuable raw materials. Wastecare’s facility was the first of it’s kind in the UK, designed to recover materials from major battery types, including nickel, cadmium, and zinc carbon.

By investing in domestic infrastructure, we enable businesses to play a direct role in supporting the UK’s circular economy. Our recycling process prioritises recovery over disposal, helping reduce landfill volumes and keep valuable materials in circulation.

• Largest battery producer compliance scheme in the UK
• Transparent pricing with guaranteed evidence supply
• Fully digital documentation and tracking via our myWaste portal
• End-to-end compliance support from one provider

Thousands of UK businesses already trust Wastecare to manage their battery waste. Whether you are a retailer, distributor, school, or workplace, we provide a straightforward, compliant, and cost-effective solution.

Contact us today

recycling@wastecare.co.uk

0800 091 0000