This year the UK will have to collect four times the number of portable batteries it collected in 2009 for recycling, if it is to meet the first interim target set by the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations SI 2009/890.
Further, it may have to increase 2008 volumes by as much as 10 times to achieve the 25% legally-binding collection target set for 2012 by Directive 2006/66/EC, on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators. The size of the task became apparent as the Environment Agency published figures showing the amount of portable batteries sold in the UK last year, based on sales data provided by registered producers.
Large producers placed 44,139.69 tonnes of portable batteries on the market in 2009. They are obligated under the Batteries Regulations to fund the collection, treatment and recycling of waste portable batteries. As a result, the six registered batteries compliance schemes will need to collect 4,414 tonnes of waste portable batteries this year to meet the first non-statutory interim collection goal of 10% set by the Regulations. The Environment Agency had estimated that the target for this year would require around 3,000 tonnes of batteries to be collected.
Moreover, while the final sales figure for 2009 means that initial interim target for this year is higher than originally estimated, industry figures have previously said that their main concern in terms of reaching targets is not for 2010 and 2011, where there is an 18% goal, but for the 25% target in 2012.
Taking into account the 605.95 tonnes of batteries sold last year by small producers who have no obligation to fund collections, if the overall amount of portable batteries remains consistent between now and 2012, then in the first full target year 11,186.41 tonnes of batteries will need to be collected.
Scott Butler, general manager for the European Recycling Platform compliance scheme said, "I think that 2012 has to be the big one because it's the mandatory one. At the moment you're building networks and the initial organisation should certainly deliver 10% and get you well on the way to 18%". However, he accepted that the since the market size was bigger than previously stated it would mean an even greater challenge.
Nevertheless, Mr Butler refused to blame the Environment Agency for underestimating the market share, noting that "everyone was surprised, so there's no-one to blame", but he suggested it should represent more of a "mental note" to be taken into account when a similar exercise was carried out for future legislation.
