|
INFORMATION ON BATTERIES
The Recycling Policy Unit’s current work
includes preparing for negotiations at Community level on an
expected new Directive that is likely to set collection and
recycling targets for batteries. We have commissioned an
analysis of costs and benefits report by our environmental
consultants, which will aid our negotiations. A copy of the
Executive Summary of this study can be viewed below. We have
revised the Batteries and Accumulators (Containing Dangerous
Substances) Regulations 1994, to implement a Commission
Directive that introduced further restrictions on batteries
and accumulators that contain mercury.
The DTI is currently participating in a
battery collection and recycling campaign in Bristol to
obtain data on collection levels for post consumer batteries
and to assess the suitability of the scheme being replicated
elsewhere. To obtain details on the Bristol Battery
Recycling Campaign please use link to the South West
Regional Development Agency below.
Legislation
Council Directive 91/157/EEC - Batteries and
Accumulators Containing Certain Dangerous Substances
This specifies that batteries containing
mercury, cadmium or lead should be collected separately when
spent and should carry an identifying label. The Directive
also sets permissible heavy metal limits, and requires
certain battery-powered equipment to be designed in such a
way as to make their batteries easily removable. ( Ref.
OJ L 078 26.03.1991 p.38)
Commission Directive 93/86/EEC - Labelling
of batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous
substances
Specifies which symbol the above batteries
should carry, viz. a crossed-out wheelie bin, as well as the
appropriate chemical symbol. ( Ref.
OJ L 264 23.10.1993 p.51)
Commission Decision 98/101/EC -- adapting
91/157/EEC to technical progress
This Decision reduces the permissible limit
of mercury in all primary and secondary cells to 0.0005% and
prohibits, from 1.1.2000 at the latest, the marketing of
batteries not meeting this limit. It also prohibits, from
the same date, the marketing of button cells containing more
than 2% mercury by weight. ( Ref.
OJ L 001 05.01.1991 p.1)
Statutory Instrument 232 of 1994
The Batteries and Accumulators (Containing
Dangerous Substances) Regulations 1994. This SI prohibits
the sale of (most) alkaline batteries containing over 0.025%
mercury, stipulates that all batteries covered by Directive
91/157/EEC carry the appropriate chemical symbol as well as
the crossed out wheelie bin, and sets down design
requirements for certain battery-powered equipment.
Available from Stationery Office-formerly
HMSO tel. 020 7873
9090 or fax 020
7873 8200 and
Stationery Office web site at:
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1994/Uksi_19940232_en_1.htm
Statutory Instruments 2000 No. 3097
The Batteries and Accumulators (Containing
Dangerous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 2000.
Available from Stationery Office web site at
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2000/20003097.htm
Statutory Instruments 2001 No. 2551
The Batteries and Accumulators (Containing
Dangerous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 2001. This SI
transposes Commission Directive 98/101/EC (see above) into
UK law. Available from Stationery Office web site at: http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2001/20012551.htm
GENERAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON BATTERIES
http://www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability/pub.htm
Bristol Battery Recycling Campaign: http://www.southwestrda.org.uk/batteries
The Executive
Summary of "Analysis of the Environmental Impact and
Financial Costs of a Possible New European Directive on
Batteries"- a study undertaken by Environmental
Resources Management for the DTI.
Proposed revision of Council Directive 91/157/EEC - Batteries
and Accumulators Containing Certain Dangerous Substances
On 25 February 2003 the European Commission published a
"Consultation Document on the Batteries Directive Revision"
as part of a new process of public consultation on the revision of the
directive on batteries and accumulators. Comments were welcomed by 28 April 2003.
Following this consultation process, on 24 November 2003 a proposal for
a new Batteries Directive was adopted by the Commission. Among its
requirements the proposal introduces extended producer responsibility
for the end of life management of all spent batteries and accumulators, collection and recycling targets
for all spent portable batteries and accumulators as well as stipulating
treatment standards for all separately collected waste batteries and
accumulators. Please
use links below to view/ download texts of the European Commission
consultation document and the UK Government response. To view/ download
a copy of the proposal for a new Batteries Directive, visit the
Commission's batteries website, using the link below.
Return to Index
|
