The department has said the consultation will focus on three areas: issues around portable batteries, significant changes in industrial and automotive batteries, and EU batteries regulation.
At a webinar in May, Paul Hallett, team leader at Defra, said the consultation would take place “towards the back end of this year” (see letsrecycle.com story).
However, environment minister Rebecca Pow said yesterday (10 November): “Defra will be consulting on improvements to the batteries regulations in 2023.
“This has and will continue to include routine engagement with stakeholders on all the options for treatment of waste batteries, including recycling.”
Mrs Pow was responding to a question from Ian Levy, the Conservative MP for Blyth Valley, who asked what conversations Defra had had with colleagues in the cabinet and stakeholders on the potential merits of developing a British market for battery recycling.
Mrs Pow also said: “I have not had discussions with cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of developing a British market for battery recycling.”
Consultation
Given the well-publicised issues with the levels of lead acid batteries contributing towards meeting the collection target for portable batteries, it is believed Defra’s consultation will contain short- and medium-term measures to push for a more representative mix.
Defra moved to clarify what constitutes a ‘sealed’ battery in a bid to address concerns around the high collection levels for portable lead-acid batteries in September (see letsrecycle.com story).
It is thought the consultation will also address EU batteries regulation, which will apply in Northern Ireland under the NI Protocol. The EU’s battery regulations contain more granular categorisation and specify minimum recycled content in new batteries and minimum performance and durability criteria, among other things.
And, it was previously suggested that the consultation would look at significant changes in industrial and automotive batteries. Proposals included separating electric vehicle batteries from industrial batteries in their own category.
Defra could also explore the introduction of kerbside collections in the longer term in an attempt to boost portable battery recycling.
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