The UK currently collects less than 2% of waste portable batteries, one of the lowest rates in Europe.
The EC Directive on Batteries and Accumulators (2006/66/EC) was published on 26 September 2006. It aims to minimise the impact of batteries on the environment and encourage the recovery of the materials they contain.
To achieve increased collection and recycling of waste batteries, the Directive places 'producer responsibility' obligations on manufacturers and importers of portable, industrial and automotive batteries.
The UK has two years to transpose the requirements of the Directive. As such, regulations are expected to enter into force here on 26 September 2008.
Am I likely to be obligated?
Producer means 'any person, in a Member State that, irrespective of selling technique used, including by means of distance communication.., places batteries or accumulators, including those incorporated into appliances or vehicles, on the market for the first time'.
Batteries and accumulators have many different routes to market. It is expected that producer obligations will fall on the persons following:
- domestic manufacturers
- businesses that assemble battery packs
- importers supplying to retailers or wholesale customers
- importers supplying batteries (inclusive of battery packs) to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) producers
- importers that are themselves retailers
- businesses that place batteries on the market in EEE or in vehicles
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