MoreThanWaste.com - Battery recycling scheme expanded by WRAP (01/11/2006)

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

In partnership with a selection of local authorities and not-for-profit organisations, WRAP has encouraged roll out one of the biggest kerbside battery collection trials in the UK involving 350,000 households. The trials started in March 2006 but an expansion is to take place shortly in a new scheme that could involve an additional 400,000 houses.

The new trial

The new trial includes 'drop off' points such as supermarkets and other methods of collection.

Shoppers will be able to drop off their spent batteries at the larger electronics retailers and supermarkets, use readily accessible drop off points equipped with battery banks (in 2 local authority areas), or use the postal collection scheme with the help of pre-paid special envelopes (aimed at rural areas).

The retail take back scheme is supported by a number of big names including Argos, B&Q, Currys, Homebase, PC World and Tesco.

Chris Davey, manager of local authority relations for WRAP, said:

"These new trials complete the initial phase of our battery recycling work. I am delighted that so many partner organisations are working with WRAP to find out how we can best collect batteries for recycling in the UK."

He continued, "We hope to deliver a cost effective, long-term solution that will help us encourage behavioural change and turn the tide on the 600 million batteries currently being sent to landfill each year."

The initial trial

Householders in the earlier initiated trial areas received a dedicated collection container for their batteries which were either sealable polythene bags or small cardboard boxes. These containers were put out for collection along with their other materials for recycling.

All Types of Batteries were collected including AAA and AA cells , sizes C and D, button batteries, mobile phone and laptop batteries. Batteries were collected whether full, partially used or out of date. However vehicle batteries were not accepted. In this case there were already established recycling operations.

Earlier results

Early results from a selection of 7 councils between April and June 2006 showed that collections of alkaline-zinc (91%), nickel-cadmium (3.7%), primary lithium (0.3%), nickel metal hydride (1.0%), lithium ion (0.5%), lead acid (3.0%), button batteries (0.4%).

Following collection the batteries were "bulked up" at Council depots before pick-up by WRAP's designated processor, G & P Batteries. The batteries were then sorted into batches based on the chemical content of the battery, before reprocessing to produce a number of different compounds for use in further manufacture.


	Battery recycling scheme expanded by WRAP (01/11/2006) Research undertaken by WRAP shows that the average household uses 21 batteries per year and that around 600m UK batteries are sent to landfill every year. In partnership with a selection of local authorities and not-for-profit organisations, WRAP has encouraged roll out one of the biggest kerbside battery collection trials in the UK involving 350,000 households. The trials started in March 2006 but an expansion is to take place shortly in a new scheme that could involve an additional 400,000 houses. The new trial The new trial includes 'drop off' points such as supermarkets and other methods of collection. Shoppers will be able to drop off their spent batteries at the larger electronics retailers and supermarkets, use readily accessible drop off points equipped with battery banks (in 2 local authority areas), or use the postal collection scheme with the help of pre-paid special envelopes (aimed at rural areas). The retail take back scheme is supported by a number of big names including Argos, B&Q, Currys, Homebase, PC World and Tesco. Chris Davey, manager of local authority relations for WRAP, said: "These new trials complete the initial phase of our battery recycling work. I am delighted that so many partner organisations are working with WRAP to find out how we can best collect batteries for recycling in the UK." He continued, "We hope to deliver a cost effective, long-term solution that will help us encourage behavioural change and turn the tide on the 600 million batteries currently being sent to landfill each year." The initial trial Householders in the earlier initiated trial areas received a dedicated collection container for their batteries which were either sealable polythene bags or small cardboard boxes. These containers were put out for collection along with their other materials for recycling. All Types of Batteries were collected including AAA and AA cells , sizes C and D, button batteries, mobile phone and laptop batteries. Batteries were collected whether full, partially used or out of date. However vehicle batteries were not accepted. In this case there were already established recycling operations. Earlier results Early results from a selection of 7 councils between April and June 2006 showed that collections of alkaline-zinc (91%), nickel-cadmium (3.7%), primary lithium (0.3%), nickel metal hydride (1.0%), lithium ion (0.5%), lead acid (3.0%), button batteries (0.4%). Following collection the batteries were "bulked up" at Council depots before pick-up by WRAP's designated processor, G & P Batteries. The batteries were then sorted into batches based on the chemical content of the battery, before reprocessing to produce a number of different compounds for use in further manufacture.