Battery recycling made easier

Over 600 million batteries are used in Britain each year, an average of 21 per household, but the UK has a poor track record of recycling them.  Currently only 3% of domestic (portable) batteries are recycled, with the overwhelmingly majority, 97% entering landfill.  Across Europe battery recycling rates are generally much higher.  According to 2008 figures from the European Battery Recycling Association, the highest domestic battery recycling rates are in Luxemburg (60%), Belgium (41.5%) and Austria (38%).  The UK has the lowest rate in Western Europe although a few large European countries with have even lower rates, such as Italy (1%).

The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 came into effect on the 1st February 2010, following a European Directive.  Under the new regulations the UK will have to recycle 25% of spent batteries by 2012 and 45% by 2016.

Why recycle batteries?

In addition to conserving natural resources, battery recycling is important to prevent soil and water pollution.  Many household batteries contain toxic metals including lead, cadmium and mercury, which once buried, may leak into the ground causing pollution and potentially impact human health.

Where can domestic batteries be recycled?

Every shop that sells more than 32kg of batteries each year, the equivalent of about a pack of batteries a day will now have to provide battery collection.  Most shops will provide a box but larger shops may have a battery tube.  The government is encouraging shops to use the ‘Be Positive’ poster.  Domestic batteries will of course continue to be accepted at local authority hazardous waste sites.

Many of us have drawers of old batteries hoping we will one day use them.  Why not go through them to check if any of them are spent so can be recycled.  Forgotten batteries can start to leak so it’s also worth checking old electrical & electronic items.

Battery recycling in Edinburgh South

Edinburgh South should in theory have many places accepting domestic batteries.  However as the new rules have just come in many shops are still to catch up.  The most reliable places to take spent batteries are the shops of large companies such as supermarkets but smaller shops are also providing collections.  The following have been checked as providing collection points as of February 2010.

Bruntsfield & Tollcross: Camera Image (Bruntsfield Pl), Costcutter (Bruntsfield Pl), Post Office (Merchiston Pl), Scotmid (Leven St), XL Electrical (Home St).

Marchmont & Sciennes: Margiottas (Marchmont Rd, Warrender Park Rd), Scotmid (Marchmont Rd, Warrender Park Rd), Marchmont Hardware (Warrender Park Road).

Morningside: Margiotta (Comiston Rd), Boots (Morningside Rd), Home Hardware (Morningside Road), Marks & Spencers (Morningside Rd), Sony Centre (Morningside Rd), Superdrug (Morningside Rd), Waitrose (Morningside Rd).

Newington: Edinburgh Bargain Store (South Clerk St), Homebase (St Leonards St), Scotmid (Nicolson St), Southside Pharmacy (Nicolson St), Superdrug (Nicolson St), Tesco (Nicolson St).

Larger batteries such as car batteries can be taken to one of Edinburgh’s Community Recycling Centres.  The nearest centre for TES residents is situated on Old Dalkeith Road, Craigmillar.

LINKS

Waste Online - Battery Recycling info sheet

WRAP market research on battery recycling