The UK Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations were introduced in May 2009, with the aim of reducing the amount of used batteries ending up in landfill. They require battery 'producers' to finance the collection, treatment and recycling of this fast-growing and problematic waste stream.
These regulations affect all manufacturers and importers ('producers') of batteries - businesses that place portable, industrial and automotive batteries, or products containing batteries, onto the UK market for the first time.
Battery 'producers' are required to finance the recycling costs of batteries at their end-of-life. All obligated 'producers' that place more than 1 tonne of portable batteries onto the UK market must register with a battery compliance scheme, or they will be at risk of Environment Agency prosecution.
If you are a 'distributor' (retailer) who sells over 32kg of batteries each year, you must offer to take back waste batteries in store when selling new batteries. Contact us on 08450 682 572, or via our online enquiry form to find out more about our battery collection scheme.
If you are a small battery retailer (i.e. you are under the threshold), you are not required to take back waste batteries. However, if you still wish to offer a waste battery collection service to your customers as part of your corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme please contact us.
If you are still not sure if your organisation is affected by the Waste Batteries Regulations you can find out by downloading a copy of our 'Are you Obligated' document.
If you think that you might be obligated either as a 'producer', 'seller' or both contact us to discuss your business and your requirements in more detail.