New battery recycling regulations come into force

New regulations that allow consumers to dispose of spent batteries in shops free of charge come into effect from the 1 February.

The EU Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations require retailers that sell more than 32kg a year of portable batteries – which equates to around one four-pack of AA batteries a day - to place bins in-store.

If a retailer sells batteries online, over the phone or by mail order they must also comply. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said there were various ways these companies can do this.

For example, they could provide collection facilities at their offices or warehouses or at such places as schools or libraries and provide a pick-up facility.

All types of portable batteries, including rechargeable, from all kinds of products, including hearing aids, mobile phones and laptops, can be disposed of this way; even if they have not been bought from the shop they are taken to for disposal.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said although it will cost consumers nothing to dispose of batteries this way, it conceded that manufacturers may increase the price of batteries to cover the costs.

“We think this should only be by a few pence,” it said in a statement.

The new regulations came into force on 5 May 2009; almost a year late. In addition, changes to the regulations meant many smaller retailers are no longer obligated to provide in-store facilities.

The aim is to reduce the number of used batteries, which contain hazardous materials such as cadmium and lead, going to landfill. In the UK around 634 million batteries are sold each year, but the Government estimates that only about three per cent are recycled.

Under the directive, the UK has been given a target of collecting 25 per cent of waste portable batteries by 2012 and 45 per cent by 2016.

In addition to the in-store facilities, a few local councils are running kerbside schemes.