UK battery producers are on track to meet their target to ensure that 10% of waste portable batteries are collected for recycling by the end of 2010, according to data published yesterday (December 1).
This means that producers will have to drastically improve collection rates if the UK is to meet its statutory target to recycle 25% of portable batteries in 2012 under the EU Battery Directive.
The data, published on the National Packaging Waste Database, shows that 1,087 tonnes (10.15%) of the 10,699 portable batteries placed on the market were collected by battery compliance schemes in the third quarter.
When combined with performance from the first two quarters, this averages out to a 11.64% collection rate – comfortably above the first interim target of 10% set out in the Batteries Regulations.
However, it will be important for this performance to be maintained in the last quarter in order for the target to be met. This may be harder than in previous quarters as more batteries are likely to be placed on the market in the run up to Christmas – meaning that more will have to be collected to maintain the same collection rates.
The next target for battery compliance schemes is the interim collection goal of 18% for 2011, followed by 2012's statutory 25% target.
| Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4 | Total | |
| Batteries placed on the market (t) | 9,543 | 9,025 | 10,699 | – | 29,268 |
| Waste batteries collected by compliance schemes (t) | 861 | 1,459 | 1,087 | – | 3,408 |
| Source: National Packaging Waste Database | |||||
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