There are major questions over whether the UK reached its 10% waste portable battery collection target for 2010, after the Environment Agency revealed only five of the six batteries schemes’ tonnageshad counted towards a 9.56% collection rate published today (March 14).
The figures published on the Environment Agencys National Waste Packaging Database reveal that, in total, 4,376 tonnes of waste portable batteries were collected for recycling in 2010.
When calculated as a percentage of the 45,754 tonnes of portable batteries sold in 2009, this equates to 9.56%.
However, the Agency todayrevealed thatthis percentage did not take into account the tonnage of batteries collected by the CCR REBAT scheme.
EA batteries project manager Bob Meadsaid that CCR REBAT “has been served with an enforcement notice requiring them to submit accurate data by the end of this week.”
And, as a result, he said: “Until we have this data we are unable to say whether the UK as a whole has met its target. A spokeswoman for the Agency confirmed the scheme in question was CCR REBAT.
While the exact impact of CCR REBAT’s tonnage not being included cannot be ascertained, the difference between the quarterly collection figures initially published and those published today would suggest the inclusion of their tonnage could add up to 1% to the UK’s collection rate.
Staging point
While the 10% goal is not legally-binding, it is intended to provide an important staging point as the UK strives to significantly increase its traditionally low battery recycling rate to the statutory 25% target set for 2012 under the EU Batteries Directive.
As such, it seems certain the UK will have to more than double its collection rate in just two years to meet the European Union goal, and todays figures are likely to raise concerns over just how fast the UK is improving its battery collection rates.
In particular, the data for quarter four of 2010 shows a significant increase in the tonnage of batteries placed on the market in the run up to Christmas that was not matched by the increase in tonnage of waste batteries collected.
UK system
The figures published today are based on the tonnage of batteries placed onto the market by large producers. Under the batteries regulations the must join one of six batteries compliance schemes to meet their obligations to fund the collection, treatment and recycling of waste portable batteries.
The figures do not include the tonnage of batteries placed on the market by small producers, who are only required to submit data to the agencies and not to join a scheme. These figures are set to be published on March 31, but – based on 2009 data – they will add less than 150 tonnes to the total amount of batteries placed on the market.
The next target for battery compliance schemes is the similarly non-statutory interim collection goal of 18% for 2011.
The UK waste portable battery recycling system involves batteries being collected through a wide range of avenues, ranging from public buildings such as schools and libraries through to retailers.
The latter have an obligation under the regulations to provide free in-store take-back of waste batteries if they sell at least one pack of four AA batteries a day.
While the retail route is expected to play a major part in the early stages of the UK system,it is thought that, in some cases, battery collection points in shops could be moved aside to make room for more profitablesales stands.
Some experts have claimed that, as the targets increother avenues such as workplace and kerbside collections will have a larger role to play (see letsrecycle.com story) despite councils having no legal responsibility to provide collections.
CCR REBAT
Speaking to letsrecycle.com about the situation with CCR REBAT’s data, a spokesman for the scheme, Stephan Matz, said: “We did submit our data in time to the Environment Agency website and they’re currently checking our data, but we’re confident that our scheme and its members will be compliant.”
Mr Matz added that he expected to get the information that CCR REBAT had complied “very soon”.
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