The government has recently released two publications aimed at encouraging businesses to manage their impact on the environment with regards to Batteries waste producers.
In mid-May, an updated version of the FAQ document on Directive 2006/66/EC was released to replace the November 2012 version of the FAQ, reflecting the amendments introduced by Directive 2013/56/EC, which member states are required to transpose into national law by 1 July 2015.
The amendments introduced through Directive 2013/56/EC included removing exemptions regarding the use of cadmium in portable batteries used in cordless power tools and with respect to the use of mercury in button cells. At the same time changes were made to some other provisions of the Directive, in particular placing on the market and the removability of batteries. These are all addressed in the new FAQ document.
In early June, Statutory guidance on ‘Waste portable batteries delivered to battery collection points’ was published. The statement describes the enforcement approach the government has adopted when waste portable batteries are moved to a collection point in the circumstances described within the guidance. Mainly including information for operators of collection points, it offers guidance on the types of batteries and the types of delivery to a collection point.
The waste batteries FAQ can be found here, whilst the guidance on battery collection points can be seen here.
Robbie Staniforth
Innovation and Policy Director
Robbie is innovation and policy director at Ecosurety. Having spent years building an intimate understanding of the industry’s policies and politics, he uses this knowledge to help shape new legislation and oversees Ecosurety’s growing portfolio of cross-industry innovation projects including Podback and the Flexible Plastic Fund. He has worked closely with Defra during the most recent packaging consultations, outlining the impacts and required transitional arrangements of the UK’s new EPR system and is a member of the government’s Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP). He is also a spokesperson for the company and regularly uses his influence to communicate the importance of environmental responsibility to external stakeholders.
Useful links
The quarterly data reveals a total of 25,511 tonnes of portable batteries have so far been placed on the UK market this year, 14,738 of which have been collected and sent for treatment to Approved Battery Treatment Operators (ABTOs) or Exporters (ABEs).
Read More >>Provisional figures, published by the Environment Agency on 28 February, highlight the UK’s failure meet its 45% collection target for household batteries in 2017 – a shortfall of 0.12%.
Read More >>Campaign partner Currys PCWorld to collect used household batteries through network of home installation teams to help combat low recycling rates
Read More >>
