Battery recycling 'too difficult'
Published: 12 July 2010
Author: Melanie Scagliarini
[ 1 ] Recommendation
EU Batteries Directive will set a recycling target of 25% of all batteries
The European Recycling Platform (ERP) reports that while only a third of households at present recycle batteries, four out of five said they would do so if it was made easier.
Of the 600 million batteries used in the UK every year - 40% of them bought at Christmas to power presents - only 3% of batteries are recycled, the rest going to landfill.
Says ERP spokesman Scott Butler: "Christmas is a boom time for battery buying. And it's obvious from the survey results that people want to recycle batteries.
"This Christmas can be a little bit greener, if people keep batteries out of the bin and ready to take to a collection point in the new year."
Take action
- Here's how to recycle your old batteries
- Read more about the EU Batteries Directive
- Get tips for a green Christmas
An EU Batteries Directive, which comes into force on 1st January, sets a recycling target of 25% of all batteries sold by 2012 and 45% by 2016.
It says that any shop selling more than 70.5lb (32kg) of batteries a year will have a legal obligation to collect waste batteries from 1st February, 2010.
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