Recycling Batteries (Merged)

Penelope_Penguin

Hello!

Following other threads on recycling, we've found that there are very few opportunities to recycle batteries in the UK.

The average household uses 21 batteries a year. The UK generates 20,000 - 30,000 tonnes of waste general purpose batteries every year, but less than 1,000 tonnes are recycled. :eek:

EU legistation has set targets for this recycling, so it affects all of us.

More importantly, many batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, nickel, cadmium. If these materials are just put in landfill, they may end up contaminating the land and water courses.

Please post your experience of recycling batteries.

Many thanks, Penny. x

aimeelister

Our Local Council (Vale of White Horse) takes batteries for re-cycling in our green box (well actually you have to bag them and put them next to your green box)

I must say i have been really impressed with the things that they take on a regular basis for re-cycling. I think they do lead in what they will take. Newspapers, Flyers, Aerosol Cans, Magazines & Brochures, Food Cans, Catalogues, Drinks Cans, Junk Mail, Paper Envelopes, Aluminium Foil, Telephone Directories (no Yellow Pages), Batteries, Glass Bottles and Jars, Car Batteries, Plastic Bottles, Shoes & Textiles & Clothing and Mobile Phones

I think its all really good so well done the council! And they have been doing it for longer than most places.

Penelope_Penguin

aimeelister wrote:

Our Local Council (Vale of White Horse) takes batteries for re-cycling in our green box (well actually you have to bag them and put them next to your green box)

I must say i have been really impressed with the things that they take on a regular basis for re-cycling. I think they do lead in what they will take. Newspapers, Flyers, Aerosol Cans, Magazines & Brochures, Food Cans, Catalogues, Drinks Cans, Junk Mail, Paper Envelopes, Aluminium Foil, Telephone Directories (no Yellow Pages), Batteries, Glass Bottles and Jars, Car Batteries, Plastic Bottles, Shoes & Textiles & Clothing and Mobile Phones

I think its all really good so well done the council! And they have been doing it for longer than most places.

Crikey, I'm moving near you!

Gold star to Vale of White Horse (great name, great recycling). :T :T :T

Penny. x

Hunnymonster

City of Chester council has been doing this for about 6 months now - I noticed just before Christmas when we were at the in-laws.

Scottish Borders on the other hand is somewhat lagging behind having only just introduced plastic, paper/card and tin can recycling.

ericthekidstoner

you can bring your used batteries to your local Dixons or Currys

they should have a battery bin at their small electronics desk (where they sell mp3 players and cameras etc.)

I've done this a few times

Don't know what they do with them tho but it is better than throwing them in the bin!

pollys

Our Kerbside collectors take batteries, they supply a bag especially for them. I think this is a pilot scheme, I am in Calderdale, West Yorkshire.

little_miss_thrifty

I must say i have been really impressed with the things that they take on a regular basis for re-cycling. I think they do lead in what they will take. Newspapers, Flyers, Aerosol Cans, Magazines & Brochures, Food Cans, Catalogues, Drinks Cans, Junk Mail, Paper Envelopes, Aluminium Foil, Telephone Directories (no Yellow Pages), Batteries, Glass Bottles and Jars, Car Batteries, Plastic Bottles, Shoes & Textiles & Clothing and Mobile Phones



Our council in Suffolk do all the above too - we have to take our batteries to the recycling centre, but at least they deal with them.....haven't got so many to take there now though, as i now use rechargeable

LMT x

500yearvision

Some local councils are going to introduce new schemes for doorstep collection of batteries, so that they are seperated out of the waste stream & components can be recycled and any dangerous elements safely disposed of.

The cost of this is likely to be many thousands of pounds.

As an alternative, does anyone know of a postal address to which we can send used batteries so that they can be safely disposed of? A freepost address would be ideal.

The British Battery Manufacturing Association have an address:
BBMA 3 London Wall Buildings, London Wall, London EC2M 5SY

However they don't give any guidelines on where batteries can be safely disposed of.

I am swapping over to rechargeable batteries, though they are expensive!

Does anyone know where I could send my used batteries?

Thanks!

HappySad

I've got a load of batteries to get rid of also. I thought their might be a shop that would recycle them of pass them on for you. Rechargeable are cheaper int he long run.

kscour

might not still do it but quite a few months ago I was in a currys and they had a collection jar for used batteries on the counter by the tills - might have been a local thing - sorry but I didn't take too much notice at the time. Might be worth ringing your local branch and asking though.

abisnail75

As 500year vision says, there are currently some trials with Local Authorities on battery collection but this also includes trials on take-back schemes in places like Curry's (certain areas). You can see what's available and where from the WRAP link below. http://www.recyclenow.com/what_more_can_i_do/can_it_be_recycled/batteries.html
Will be a while yet though but looks like the results are positive.

Hope this helps! A