Controversy Over Battery Recycling Figures Leads to New EU Directive

Recycling is one of the hottest topics around at the moment as government offices, councils and households all work towards a more sustainable future. Now, a new development in the world of battery classification has changed the way homes and businesses can approach battery recycling.

Recycling is one of the hottest topics around at the moment as government offices, councils and households all work towards a more sustainable future. Now, a new development in the world of battery classification has changed the way homes and businesses can approach battery recycling.

The changes were brought about because the EU was concerned at the way battery recycling figures were being presented. According to earlier legislation, any unit with a mass of less than 4kg could be labelled a portable battery and any unit with a mass of more than 10kg could be labelled an industrial battery.

However, batteries in between these two figures could be labelled one or the other at the producer's discretion and this is where the environmental controversy originated.

EU directives suggested that the UK ought to recycle 25% of portable batteries produced in 2012 - a target the country actually surpassed according to figures compiled by the National Packaging Waste Database for the Environment Agency.

However, it was noted that the 27.7% of portable batteries recycled actually included a large number of batteries in the grey area between 4kg and 10kg, many of which were industrial or automotive rather than portable. The results were effectively skewed in favour of the UK's programme.

Environmental lobbyists and the powers-that-be in Europe were unimpressed by the findings. The confusion has now been addressed by introducing new legislation stating that batteries can only be considered portable if they weigh 3kg or less.

The team at BuyaBattery.co.uk is enthused by the fact that batteries have made it into the news in this manner because it may encourage businesses and members of the public to recycle more batteries in the future in order to help the UK meet its targets on responsible waste.

The company also hopes more people will consider rechargeable batteries as a viable method of limiting their contribution to battery waste.

About BuyaBattery.co.uk

Established in 1990, and selling on-line since 2003, http://www.BuyaBattery.co.uk is a specialist website selling batteries, rechargeable batteries and battery chargers. The company is one of the UK's largest specialised battery companies and it operates from a 3500 sq. ft. warehouse based in Heywood, Lancashire.