Battery recycling plan consultation

The proposals, which are set out in a Government consultation, look at the best way to improve the environmental performance of new batteries and ensure collection, treatment and recycling of waste batteries. They apply to batteries of all shapes, volumes, weights, types and uses, and, will help the UK implement the EU's Batteries and Accumulators Directive. DEFRA minister, Joan Ruddock said: “People have a vital role to play in helping Government to ensure waste is dealt with in an effective and sustainable way. If we are to protect our environment we must reduce the amount of waste that's sent to landfill. "I would encourage both producers and consumers to respond to our consultation, and help us to tackle the problem of how to deal with the millions of batteries we use every year." The proposals seek to find methods for achieving various targets and objectives including: - Clearer labelling with capacity, chemical symbol and "wheelie bin" collection symbols; - Various producer responsibilities, including a ban on disposal of industrial and automotive batteries in landfill or by incineration (in effect a 100% recycling target); - Responsibility for producers of appliances to ensure batteries can be readily removed for easy collection, treatment and recycling; and, The government consultation started on 20 December 2007 and runs through to 12 March 2008 and seeks views from consumers, businesses and industry on how these measures should be implemented.