296

A new UK Law means that a % of batteries must be recycled, you can help by not putting them in your bin

Campaign Overview

A new UK law requires that 25% by weight of portable (household) batteries placed on the market each year are collected for recycling by 2012, rising to 45% in 2016.  This is a very challenging target.  The current collection rate in the UK is estimated to be around 2.3%.

Research shows that the average household uses 21 batteries per year and that around 600m UK batteries are sent to landfill every year.

We can all do our bit to recycle our batteries and prevent them from going to landfill. By not putting your batteries in the bin and taking them to a collection point guarantees that they will be recycled and not end up in landfill.

To find out where you can take your batteries for recycling click here

From February 2010, shops selling more than 32kg of batteries a year (approx 345 x four-packs of AA batteries) will have to provide battery recycling collection facilities in-store.  This means there will be lots more places where you can take your old batteries.
 
What else can you do?
 
  • Use rechargeable batteries wherever possible - you can even buy a solar powered recharger!
  • Plug electrical equipment into the mains electricity.
  • Try to buy appliances that use renewable energy: a wind-up radio or torch, dynamo bicycle lights or a solar powered calculator