UK’s battery collection rate falls shy of target in 2015

CANTERBURY (Scrap Monster): The latest figures published by the Environment Agency indicate that the battery collection rate by the UK fell short of the yearly target of 40% in 2015. The collection rates for the year now stands at 39.97%, the report said. The final rate may exceed the target because schemes are allowed to post evidence until the end of May this year.

According to data, a total of 14,879 tonnes of waste portable batteries were collected for recycling during the entire year 2015. The collection during the last quarter of the year totaled 4,022 tonnes. Out of the total tonnage, 2,507 tonnes accounted for lead-acid batteries, whereas nickel-cadmium accounted for 125 tonnes. The collection of ‘other batteries’ totaled 1,388 tonnes. Also, lead-acid constituted 71% of the total tonnage of batteries collected in 2015.

The lead acid battery collection has dropped significantly during the last quarter of the year. Lead-acid batteries accounted for 62% of the overall tonnage of batteries collected during the quarter. The share of lead-acid batteries has dropped significantly during the quarter when compared with 78% during the first quarter of the year.

David Reynolds, general manager of BatteryBack noted that the UK has made significant progress in battery collection rates since the introduction of battery regulations in 2010. However, he noted that the UK must collect and recycle even more batteries. Incidentally, BatterBack is planning to launch a communication and awareness campaign within its members.

The rule for classification of batteries as ‘portable’ is due to change in the UK. Accordingly, waste batteries weighing more than 4kg can no longer be considered ‘portable’. It must be noted that recycling target can be attached only to batteries classified as ‘portable’.