Retailers have shown a “high” level of awareness and willingness to provide free in-store take-back of waste portable batteries since the regulations requiring them to offer the service came into effect in February 2010, according to the body responsible for enforcing the system.
When the system was introduced, doubts were raised over the level of awareness within the retail sector of the fact that they should be taking offering the service, with a snap survey revealing little or no awareness of the obligation on the ground (see letsrecycle.com story).
But, six months down the line, the body responsible for enforcing the retailer aspect of the regulations, the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), told letsrecycle.com: “In general, awareness amongst retailers of all types and sizes has been high.”
A spokesman for the body added: “Those who weren't initially aware have been keen to promptly address this by providing free take-back facilities as soon as possible.”
And, the body claimed that in some instances retailers who fall below the sales threshold which makes them obligated under the regulations were also inquiring about how they could provide the take-back service, despite not having to.
The VCA said that, between February and July 2010, it had been “actively visiting” retailers, or distributors, and revealed that, during that period, it carried out 1,243 enforcement inspections at sites, 336 covert market research inspections and 308 office-based checks of distance suppliers such as internet retailers.
BRC
Retail will always play a part but we're going to need to see collections elsewhere
Bob Gordon, BRC
The regulator's positive assessment was echoed by Bob Gordon, head of environment for trade body the British Retail Consortium (BRC), who told letsrecycle.com that he had received “lots of good reports” about the visibility of collection facilities in stores, and stressed that much of that feedback had come from compliance schemes.
Some in the industry have questioned how prominent collection containers will remain over time, as they compete with new products for often limited floor-space in shops,
But, Mr Gordon said that, while “some might see the space as something more valuable to something else”, he believed increasing consumer awareness of the fact that they should be able to take batteries in store would ensure containers remained prominent.
“The fact that consumers can't see it isn't going to be the thing that stops it being recycled,” he added.
He also claimed that, with many big retailers also having an obligation as producers under the regulations, they had an interest in ensuring the system worked well, and added: “As a big retailer, you want to be seen to be doing the right thing.”
However, Mr Gordon said that, as the collection system for battery recycling develops, retail collections will have less of a role to play, explaining that: “Retail will always play a part but we're going to need to see collections elsewhere. We're going to need to see innovation.”
He stressed that the most important factor for collection rates to increase was “consumer access”, and said: “I think collections in workplaces and at the kerbside are going to do this”.
The results of collection trials published by WRAP in November 2008 suggested that council-run kerbside collections were the most cost-effective way to collect waste portable batteries (see letsrecycle.com story), and Mr Gordon cited those trials as evidence that “if it's at the kerbside and there's a system for doing it you'll get really good collections”.
Mr Gordon also noted that, while the first quarterly figures for battery collections had shown the UK collected less than the 10% target the regulations require it to meet for 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story), retailers “have got lots of batteries that have been collected that are waiting to be collected by compliance schemes”.
Enforcement
In terms of enforcing retailers' responsibilities under the regulations, the VCA spokesman stressed that its initial focus had been on “education and engagement”, such as providing guidance for retailers.
“This approach is likely to continue in the near future, though a distributor who repeatedly fails to meet their obligations in the longer term leaves themselves liable to a range of sanctions, for example, receipt of an enforcement notice or, potentially, prosecution,” he said.
The spokesman said the body had received queries from some retailers seeking reassurance over issues such them making sure distance sellers were being required to comply, but added: “Generally retailers have been positive about the regulations and our approach to enforcing them.”
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