Agency apologises for 2010 battery data delay

The data – which will reveal whether the UK has managed to meet its first interim, non-statutory target to collect 10% of waste portable batteriesfor recycling in 2010 – was meant to be published on February 28.

However, the Environment Agency yesterday posted a note on the National Packaging Waste Database explaining why it was taking longer.

The statement said: We are still clarifying a number data discrepancies and we will publish the data as soon as these issues have been resolved. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

‘On track’

While the Q4 data remains under wraps, minutes from a meeting of the Agencies and Industry Batteries Operational Liaison Group (AIBOLG) on February 2 confirmed that up until the fourth quarter, the UK was on track to meet the 10% target (see letsrecycle.com story).

The minutes state: Year to date figures (Q1 to Q3) shows that schemes collected 3408 tonnes of waste batteries, which is equivalent to 75% of the 4536 tonnes scheme obligation. This indicates that at Q3 we are on track to meet the 2010 target.

However, the meeting noted that only 2,786 tonnes has been reported as delivered to Approved Battery Treatment Operators (ABTO) and exporters (ABE), which it said indicated that there had been a time lag between collections and deliveries.

And, it will remain to be seen whether the UKs performance is enough for the UK to reach its statutory target of collecting 25% of waste portable batteries for recycling in 2012.