Retailers selling more than 32kg of batteries a year must now provide recycling bins in a bid to cut the amount going to landfill. This is an excellent move forward as it’s estimated that in excess of 19,000 tonnes of general purpose batteries require disposal in the UK each year. Only 2% of batteries are recycled.

Why bother recycling batteries?

Firstly batteries contain a range of metals which can be reused as a secondary raw material.

Secondly batteries contain heavy metals, which are a cause for environmental concern. When disposed of incorrectly, heavy metals may leak into the ground when the battery casing corrodes. This can contribute to soil and water pollution and endanger wildlife. Cadmium, for example, can be toxic to aquatic invertebrates and can bio-accumulate in fish, which damages ecosystems and makes them unfit for human consumption.

Read more about battery recycling on Waste Online.