The data, which was published by the Agency yesterday (December 3), shows that the UK has achieved a battery collection rate of 24.45% for the first three quarters of 2012, with 8,795 tonnes of waste portable batteries collected by compliance schemes for recycling.
Under the Batteries Directive, EU Member States must collect 25% of the average number of portable batteries placed onto the market over the three preceding years, rising to 45% in 2015. The 25% target is the first mandatory collection target.
The UKs collection rate is calculated from the weight of waste portable batteries for which schemes supply evidence.
The latest data shows in the third quarter of 2012 2,727 tonnes of waste portable batteries were collected by battery compliance schemes. In the first and second quarter, 3,225 tonnes and 2,842 tonnes were collected, respectively.
This means the UK is on track to meet the 2012 target with a relatively small amount of portable batteries left to collect, based on the indicative UK obligation for 2012 which is 8,939 tonnes. The battery sector has remained confident that the 2012 target will be met, following a promising start to the year (see letsrecycle.com story).
Heartening
The latest data has been welcomed by the battery sector.
Budget Pack compliance scheme batteries specialist, Robbie Staniforth, said he was confident that the industry would be able to meet future targets.
He said: We are pleased to see that the Q3 figures indicate the UK is on course to reach the target for battery recycling in 2012. We are confident that our work with producers, recyclers and other community groups to increase battery collection points will enable us to meet the challenging targets over the next few years.
Philip Morton, chief executive of compliance scheme Repic eBatt said the success in battery recycling sets a good example and could help when the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recast is transposed (see letsrecycle.com story).
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He said: It is heartening to see the battery system working so well, there are good elements in the battery regulations that could successfully crossover when the WEEE recast is transposed, such as known targets in advance, risk for speculators, and no forced trading of evidence.
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