BERR, Defra and the Devolved Administrations for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are seeking views on draft regulations for UK implementation of provisions relating to waste batteries in Directive 2006/66/EC on Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators.
The Government and the Devolved Administrations are seeking the views of producers, distributors, collectors and recyclers of batteries and accumulators and items containing batteries and accumulators, and any other interested parties, on the proposed approach for implementing provisions in the Directive relating to the collection, treatment, recycling and disposal of waste portable, automotive and industrial batteries and accumulators. Responses to this consultation will help Government finalise the legislation that is needed to transpose these provisions into UK law.
This is the second public consultation on these aspects of the Directive. The first consultation (URN 07/710), which addressed all aspects of UK implementation of the Directive, was published on 20 December 2007 (7 January 2008 in Northern Ireland). A Government response to that consultation was published in July 2008.
The Government has already consulted for a second time on the internal market aspects of the Directive (URN 08/913) in order that legislation addressing those requirements could be laid in Parliament and take effect from 26 September 2008.
Closed consultations on the batteries Directive may still be seen with the Government’s written responses in the “Closed with Response” part of the Consultations section of this website.
On 26 September 2006 the agreed text of Directive 2006/66/EC on Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
This Directive repeals the existing Batteries Directive 91/157/EEC which in comparison had a more limited range of provisions.
The Directive aims to maximise the separate collection and recycling of spent batteries and accumulators, and to reduce the disposal of batteries and accumulators in the municipal waste stream. This aspiration is consistent with the UK Government sustainable development and waste strategies.
Key requirements of the Directive include:
- A partial ban on portable nickel-cadmium batteries that excludes batteries used in medical equipment, emergency lighting and alarm systems, and cordless power tools. However, the exemption for power tools is subject to review after four years.
- Collection targets for spent portable batteries of 25% of average annual sales 4 years after the directive is implemented in the UK, rising to 45% after 8 years.
- Bans the disposal of untreated automotive and industrial batteries in landfill or by incineration.
- Member States will have until 26 September 2008 to transpose the Directive.
On 10 January The Department of Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) and Defra arranged a "Futurefocus" event at the BERR offices in London. 19 invited industry representative took part in a "brainstorming" event looking into possible implications of the Directive for the UK. Participants were given the opportunity to comment on a series of questions on an anonymous basis. A report showing the full range of comments made during the workshop is attached.
Batteries & Accumulators Directive: Implementation Workshop: 10 January 2007.