Batteries data delay could be resolved shortly

Months of uncertainty over whether the UK met its 10% waste portable battery collection target for 2010 could end soon, after the producer compliance scheme whose data was missing from the original figures said it had resolved its differences with the Environment Agency.

Under the EU Batteries Directive, the UK has to collect 25% of waste portable batteries for recycling by 2012. To help meet this goal, an interim 10% collection target was set last year.

Initial collection figures for 2010 published in March 2011 were incomplete, with the CCR REBAT schemes data absent from the 9.56% collection rate reported by the Environment Agency (see letsrecycle.com story).

But, the scheme told letsrecycle.com on Friday (August 12) that it had now resolved its differences with the Agency. The scheme also said that a formal procedure involving the Agency would be finalised shortly.

CCR REBATs UK managing director, Stephan Matz, said: With regards to 2010 CCR had a different interpretation of the regulations in some aspects – i.e. definition of sorting, the role of recyclers in abroad – than the EA which has been resolved for the future.

The formal procedure is not finished yet but it should be shortly. CCR is very confident to keep going with its expansion course.

For its part, the Environment Agency has limited its formal communication to a statement on the National Packaging Waste Database on June 30 2011 where it said it was still in the process of finalising the data for 2010, and as such was unable to publish at this time.

And, while the Environment Agency could not make a comment last week, it is understood that it expects to be able to publish a statement providing an update on the situation this week.

2011 audit

Mr Matz also highlighted CCR REBATs recent audit for the current compliance period, revealing: CCR REBAT has been audited for 2011 just one week ago and both sides were pretty happy with the outcome and the performance.

More than 4,000 collection points are happy with the service of CCR REBAT in the UK, he added.