UK on course to meet first battery collection target

The UKs battery recycling sector is confident that the first mandatory battery recycling target will be met, following the release of collection data for the first half of 2012.

The data, published by the Environment Agency earlier this month, shows that the UK has achieved a collection rate of around 32% for the first two quarters of the year, with around 6,049 tonnes of waste portable batteries collected by compliance schemes for recycling.

Under the Batteries Directive, EU Member States must collect 25% of the average number of portable batteries placed onto the market over the three preceding years, rising to 45% in 2015. The 25% target is the first mandatory collection target.

Between 2010-12 the Environment Agency calculates that the UK battery sector produced 36,747 tonnes of portable batteries on average per year. This means that battery recyclers will need to collect just over 9,180 tonnes of waste portable batteries in 2012 for the target to be met.

According to the data, the UK has collected over half of its targeted collection level throughout the first two quarters of the year. And, if collection rates mirror those in 2011, these levels could rise in the third and fourth quarter of the year.

Target

As a result, figures from within the battery recycling sector feel that the UK should be able to achieve the 25% target.

Scott Butler, managing director of waste battery producer compliance scheme ERP UK, said: The Q2 figures indicate that the UK is on course to meet the 25% target for 2012. In previous years, collections have been strong in the third and fourth quarters of the year.

ERP is in a good position to meet the 2012 and 2016 targets. We have built a robust collection network that meets the compliance needs of our producer members.

Collection

Also commenting on the data, Michael Green, managing director of battery sorting firm G&P Batteries, said that the UK appeared to be well on track to meeting its 2012 battery collection target.

He said: “There is absolutely no problem in reaching the 2012 target and I cant see any reason why the sector can’t maintain similar collection levels as have been set in the first two quarters of the year.

“The Battery Compliance Schemes are responsible for ensuring the targets are met and as far as we can tell, they have matters in hand to ensure they hit the higher targets from 2015. For our part, G&P is gearing up to ensure that we have the capacity to deal with the anticipated uplift in collection and sorting of batteries from the Compliance Schemes.”