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Environmental News - New plan to recycle more batteries


Increasing the level of recycling and reducing some of the 700 million batteries that go to landfill annually are at the heart of plans published today.

The proposals, which are set out in a Government consultation, look at the best way to improve the environmental performance of new batteries and ensure collection, treatment and recycling of waste batteries. They apply to batteries of all shapes, volumes, weights, types and uses, and, will help the UK implement the EU’s Batteries and Accumulators Directive.

The proposals seek to find methods for achieving the following targets and objectives:

  • Collection targets for waste household batteries of 25% of sales by 2012, rising to 45% by 2016;
  • Prohibition on household batteries with high levels of cadmium (with some exceptions for emergency lighting, alarm systems, medical equipment and cordless power tools) and continued restrictions on use of mercury;
  • Clearer labelling with capacity, chemical symbol and “wheelie bin” collection symbols;
  • Various producer responsibilities, including a ban on disposal of industrial and automotive batteries in landfill or by incineration (in effect a 100% recycling target);
  • Responsibility for producers of appliances to ensure batteries can be readily removed for easy collection, treatment and recycling; and,
  • Responsibility for retailers to take back waste household batteries at no charge to consumers.

Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, said:

“Christmas gifts – from toys to sat navs – opened in British households next week will contain millions of batteries. Many of these will contribute to the 700 million batteries that go to UK landfill each year. This is clearly not good for the environment and that’s why we’ve signed up to these tough, but I believe achievable, targets.”

Defra Minister, Joan Ruddock said:

“People have a vital role to play in helping Government to ensure waste is dealt with in an effective and sustainable way. If we are to protect our environment we must reduce the amount of waste that’s sent to landfill.

“By throwing household batteries in the bin not only are we contributing to what’s sent to landfill, we are throwing away potential resources that could be put to good use if they were recycled. If disposed of incorrectly, even household batteries can pose an environmental risk.

“I would encourage both producers and consumers to respond to our consultation, and help us to tackle the problem of how to deal with the millions of batteries we use every year."

The government consultation will run from 20 December 2007 through to 12 March 2008 and seeks views from consumers, businesses and industry on how these measures should be implemented.

 

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