Stricter rules on manufacturing and recycling batteries and accumulators (rechargeable batteries) for UK businesses have been introduced through the implementation of the European Batteries Directive.
The new legal obligations have been split into two parts:
- Requirements on collecting, treating and recycling waste batteries and accumulators, through the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009. These rules came into force on 5 May 2009, and producers now have to pay for the collection, treatment and recycling of batteries, since 1 January 2010.
- Requirements on battery labelling and design through the Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 SI 2164. These rules are now in force.
Who do the battery recycling regulations affect?
The regulations affect any business that uses, produces, supplies, or disposes of batteries, as well as any business that manufactures or designs battery-powered products.
Specifically, the regulations affect the following businesses:
- manufacturers
- importers
- distributors
- end-users (virtually every business in the UK)
- businesses involved in treating and recycling waste batteries and accumulators
- vehicle sales and maintenance businesses.
What are the battery recycling regulations?
Waste portable, industrial and vehicle batteries in the UK must be separately collected, treated and recycled.
Portable battery producers
If you produce portable batteries you must collect data on the amount of batteries you place on the market from 5 May 2009.
If you place one tonne or less of portable batteries on the market per year you will not have to pay for the collection, treatment and recycling of batteries. You will have to register with your environmental regulator using the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD).
National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD)
If you place more than one tonne of portable batteries on the market per year, since 1 January 2010 you now have to pay for the collection, recycling and disposal of waste batteries in proportion to your market share.
You have to register with a battery compliance scheme that will arrange the collection, recycling and disposal of batteries on your behalf.
Your environmental regulator will enforce the regulations for waste portable batteries.
You must also ensure that the batteries you place on the market comply with the regulations on battery labelling and design.
Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 (Adobe PDF - 137KB)
Portable battery sellers
From 1 February 2010, if you sell 32kg or more of household batteries you will have to take back these batteries in-store, free of charge, when they become waste.
Industrial and vehicle battery producers
If you produce industrial and automotive batteries you will have to register directly with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
You will have to arrange separate collection and recycling of waste industrial batteries and vehicle batteries. You must ensure that all waste batteries that you take back or collect are taken to an approved battery treatment operator for treatment and recycling or an approved exporter.
Disposal of waste industrial and automotive batteries by landfill or by incineration was banned on 1 January 2010.
Battery users
Battery users will be:
• encouraged to separate their waste batteries to help treatment and recycling
• informed about collection and recycling schemes available.
Approval of battery compliance schemes
If you want to apply to offer a battery compliance scheme you have to register with your environmental regulator between 15 April and 15 May in the year before you operate the scheme.
Contact your environmental regulator
Further information
