B7.3.5 Waste Batteries and Accumulators
The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 [SI No. 890]
These regulations came into force on the 14th April 2009. There are slight differences depending upon whether the battery is portable.
All Batteries
The regulations introduce requirements for the person placing batteries on the market to register as a producer of batteries. That person must report on waste batteries collected and sent for recycling. There are also requirements for the treatment and recycling of waste batteries.
Portable Batteries
There are interim collection targets to assess progress towards the Directive’s collection targets. From February 2010, retailers selling more than 32kg of household batteries must now collect in-store these batteries when they become waste.
Battery producers must join a Battery Compliance Scheme (BCS). producers who put less than 1 tonne of portable batteries on the market will register, but will not have to fund collection, treatment and recycling.
Vehicle Batteries
Producers of industrial and automotive batteries must register with BERR. They will have to arrange separate collection and recycling of waste industrial batteries and vehicle batteries.
Disposal of waste industrial and automotive batteries by landfill or by incineration has been banned since 1 January 2010.
Waste Batteries and Accumulators (Treatment and Disposal) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
These Regulations amend the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 to provide for exemptions from waste management licensing for storage of waste batteries and accumulators.
The Regulations also amend the Landfill Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 and the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 to prevent the disposal of waste automotive and industrial batteries in landfill or incineration.