|
 Batteries
contain heavy metals including mercury, cadmium and
lead as well as other hazardous chemicals all of which
can cause environmental and health problems.
There are many different types of battery, but the
main 3 types are:
Wet Cell: Lead Acid Batteries (e.g.
a car battery)
Dry-cell Non-rechargeable: most common
type of general purpose disposable battery and include
– Zinc carbon, Zinc chloride. Alkaline manganese
and button cells (used in watches, calculators, hearing
aids etc)
Dry-cell Rechargeable: including rechargeable
batteries for general purpose use and nickel cadmium,
nickel metal hydride and lithium ion batteries used
in power tools and mobile phones etc.
Recycling
Recycling schemes for Lead Acid automotive batteries,
which are classified as hazardous waste, are well established
and are collected at many garages, scrap metal dealers
and civic maeinty and recycling centres. However, facilities
for recycling portable batteries are extremely limited.
Collection Schemes
There is a wide range of individual company collection
schemes for portable batteries, especially NiCd
batteries with many manufacturers having take-back schemes.
NiCd batteries and those containing mercury are classified
as hazardous waste and must be managed by a certified
waste handler.
Legislation
EU Directive on Batteries and Accumulators was introduced
in 1991 and subsequently amended in 1998. The directive
requires that batteries containing mercury, cadmium
or lead be collected separately and carry an identifying
label. It also prohibits the marketing of batteries
containing more that 0.0005% mercury by weight and of
button cells containing more than 2% mercury by weight.
The EU is currently proposing further amendments to
the Battery and Accumulators Directive that will include:
-
A ban on the disposal of untreated automotive and
industrial batteries in landfill or by incineration
-
Collection targets for spent portable batteries
of 255 of annual sales 4 years after implementation
and 45% 8 years after implementation.
-
A partial ban on portable nickel cadmium batteries
(excluding batteries used in medical equipment,
emergency lighting, alarm systems and cordless power
tools.
Source: The DTI
| Where can I get
more Information on Battery recycling? |
|
British Battery Manufacturers
Association
REBAT
The
DTI: Batteries and Accumulators Legislation
Waste
Online: Battery recycling information sheet
|
