New legislation makes it easier for you to recycle old batteries

2/2/2010

Recycling your household batteries is set to be easier from 1st February 2010 as battery recycling facilities become more widespread.

In the UK, we currently recycle around 3% of all waste batteries. Meaning that Around 600 million UK household batteries (22,000 tonnes) — the equivalent weight of 110 Jumbo Jets — are sent to landfill unnecessarily every year.

Legislation which came into force on 1^st January makes producers legally responsible for paying for the collection, treatment and recycling of waste batteries. A number of compliance schemes have been set up to ensure that producers meet their new responsibilities.

The regulations also mean that from February 1^st, all retailers selling more than 32kg of household batteries a year will be expected to provide free in-store take-back facilities for household batteries. This will affect most supermarkets and large chains as well as a number of smaller shops — but most importantly this makes it even easier for you to recycle your old batteries.

Recycling facilities for household batteries can also be found at Smallmead and Longshot Lane Household Waste Recycling Centres.