Onyx, in partnership with Sheffield city council, has introduced battery facilities at the city's five household waste recycling centres, which will then be sent to Midlands based company G&P; Batteries for recycling.
” We are delighted that companies like Onyx are prepared to bite the bullet and offer battery collections “
– Michael Green, managing director at G&P; Batteries
Annabel Johnston, recycling officer at Onyx, said: “We get lots of enquiries about how to recycle old batteries from residents and it is excellent that we can provide this service at our recycling centres. This demonstrates our commitment to continually improving the facilities for recycling in the city.”
The launch of the scheme was timed to coincide with the post Christmas period, as traditionally produces a lot of waste batteries that are used or replaced over the festive period. Onyx is encouraging residents to take their used batteries to the nearest centre at the same time as their other recyclable materials.
Councillor Harry Harpham, the council's member for Streetscene, waste management and recycling, commented: “Batteries contain harmful substances and we are being encouraged to recycle them rather than sending them to landfill.
“We are committed to introducing new facilities for these types of goods. Sheffield is once again leading the way as European ministers are currently looking to introduce new environmental measures to encourage to do exactly this kind of recycling,” he added.
G&P; Batteries
G&P; Batteries has been setting up agreements with various cities and companies across the UK to collect batteries. As well as Sheffield G&P; also has an agreement with Bedford, Gloucester, Bristol and parts of London among others.
The company is set to open a new plant in West Bromwich by the end of March which will allow them to recycle alkaline and zinc carbon batteries which make up about 80% of the market.
Michael Green, managing director at G&P;, said: “Until the battery directive comes in the company collecting the batteries has to pay for them. We are delighted that companies like Onyx are prepared to bite the bullet and offer battery collections.
“We are preparing for the battery directive in advance rather than waiting for it to come along and have to deal with it then. We are trying to encourage local authorities to do the same,” he added.
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