Waste battery collection banks will be installed in 750 Dixons, Curry's and PC World outlets across the UK. The battery banks will only be used for batteries generated in store.
” This is an initial step by the company in recognising the need for environmental responsibility concerning the safe disposal of its own batteries “
– Vivien Williams, Dixons
Announcing the contract, Vivien Williams – environmental manager for the Dixons Group – said: “This is an initial step by the company in recognising the need for environmental responsibility concerning the safe disposal of its own batteries.
“Many of the products sold in our stores contain batteries and we are pleased that there is a route for recycling within the UK,” she added.
UK first
Dixons Group is the first major retail company to sign up to G&P; collections. Battery collections will become common place in the coming years when the EU's Battery Directive is transposed into UK legislation.
It is not yet known what level of waste batteries may be generated by the Dixons Group but G&P; Batteries director Gregg Clementson sees their decision as a pioneering step towards environmental responsibility.
“Dixons' decision comes within three months of G&P; opening the UK's first recycling plant for household batteries and we believe that their forward thinking approach will be followed by other retailers,” he said.
The majority of batteries collected will be alkaline and zinc carbon waste batteries, the most common type of household batteries but G&P; can also collect batteries of other chemistries including those used in laptops, mobile phones and television sets.
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