Recycling and waste

Producer Responsibility: Batteries Directive

Frequently asked questions

These FAQs are designed to address the issues related to the Batteries Directive, and are not intended to provide a comprehensive review of all regulations.
Q1. Does the Government support the aims of the Proposed Directive?

The Government supports the proposal as it is consistent with the Waste Strategy and Sustainable Development Strategy in aiming to reduce the quantity of hazardous and non hazardous waste batteries going to landfill and increasing the recovery of waste materials. We are aiming to have an effective and workable Directive that is economically viable for those with producer obligations and minimises additional costs for consumers.

Q2. When is the Directive coming into force?

The Batteries Directive was agreed in the EU on 2 May 2006. We now await for publication in the Official EU Journal from which date we will have 24 months to transpose provisions into national law. It is expected that the Directive will come into force domestically in 2008.

Q3. How will the UK battery industry cope with the costs of meeting the proposed targets?

The Government is committed to achieving the environmental benefits of this Directive at least cost to business and without damaging UK competitiveness. The Government will work with business to ensure that these aims are met.

Q4. The UK has a poorly developed collection infrastructure for consumer batteries, currently collecting less than 2% of these when they become waste. How do you plan to meet the challenging Directive targets within four years of transposition date?

As part of the BREW (Business Resource Efficiency and Waste) programme being run by Defra, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) have been asked to undertake work to develop options for a cost effective UK battery collection infrastructure.

Q5. What is the exact nature of the WRAP collection trials?

In terms of household batteries, Defra have asked WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) to pilot collection schemes by working in partnership with a range of local authorities and not-for-profit organisations that already run recycling collection services.

For further details see the batteries pages on the WRAP website.

Q6. What do we expect to learn from these trials?

The trials form part of a wider effort to develop cost-effective ways for the UK to meet the targets of the forthcoming EU Batteries Directive. The results of the various trials will be used to help Government identify the best mechanisms and most efficient methods of collection for rolling out across the UK. It will be through a combination of collection methods that the UK will achieve the Directive targets. Schools and Local Authorities have already become involved in battery collection.

Q7. How will the UK stimulate more competition for battery recycling?

It is anticipated that market forces will drive this, i.e. as soon as batteries start to be collected in the UK. Producers will have to pay for recycling which means economies of scale will come into force.

Q8. Why does the UK have such a bad record for collecting batteries?

One reason is likely to be landfill costs, as these have been very cheap and as a result there has been little incentive for collection schemes to be introduced as the collectors would have to bear the costs. The UK has a much better record for recycling automotive batteries with collection and recycling levels amongst the best in Europe at approximately 90%.

However, since the introduction of the Government’s Waste Strategies, the UK has continually been looking at how to manage waste more effectively. Where reduction and re-use are not possible, recovery of waste, and particularly recycling is the next best option.

Q9. What do consumers do with batteries when battery collection/recycling is not available in their local area?

Until the appropriate separate collection facilities are available, householders will have to dispose of batteries in their mixed waste disposal. Businesses are advised to contact specialist waste management companies.

Q10. What happens to the materials recycled from batteries? Is there an end market for them?

When lead acid batteries are recycled, the recycled lead goes back into newly manufactured batteries. With alkaline and zinc carbon batteries (everyday consumer batteries), three fractions are recycled - steel, paper/plastic and black mass. There is an existing market for the steel fraction, but as battery recycling is new to the UK, more work is needed to seek out end markets for metal zinc and manganese.

Q11. What legislation applies to portable battery collection?

Waste Management Licensing and the Hazardous Waste regulations apply to portable battery collection.

Q12. Where do batteries collected in the UK go for recycling?

A treatment plant for portable alkaline and zinc carbon (batteries used everyday by consumers) primary batteries was opened in March 2005 to based in the West Midlands. AEA Technology, an innovation company, is working on a facility to recycle lithium-ion batteries (used in mobile phones, AV equipment). This is under development in Golspie, North East Scotland. The majority of waste lead acid (automotive uses) batteries in the UK are recycled at H.J. Enthoven & Sons in Derbyshire.

There are no UK facilities for recycling Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries (used in power tools, emergency lighting), so NiCd batteries are collected in the UK and are exported for recycling to the Société Nouvelle d'Affinage des Métaux (SNAM) facility in France for recycling. The principal UK mercury reprocessing facility that accepts button cells (used in watches, cameras, hearing aids) for treatment is Odin Technology based in Berkshire. Mercury Recycling in Manchester also processes spent button cells for treatment. The majority of spent silver oxide (also used in cameras and watches) batteries are reprocessed by Engelhard Ltd.

Q13. Will the use of rechargeable batteries be encouraged over the use of non-rechargeable batteries?

The use of various battery types is driven by the market, i.e. battery manufacturers will respond to any changes in consumer behaviour. The use of disposable or rechargeable batteries will be dependent on the individual requirements of the end user. Rechargeable batteries can be re-used many times, but typically will contain a lower voltage and will not last as long (before re-charging) as disposable batteries. There are some applications which are unsuitable to rechargeable batteries, particularly those which use batteries over a long period of time without them being changed e.g. clocks, door chimes, smoke alarms and photographic equipment.

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Page last modified: 14 March 2007
Page published: 5 February 2003

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs