The EU Batteries Directive aims to reduce the impact on the environment of the manufacture, distribution, use, disposal and recovery of batteries. Certain parts of the Directive are implemented in the UK by the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009.
The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 set out rules for collecting, treating and recycling all types of batteries* in the UK.
The Regulations place certain responsibilities on producers, distributors, waste battery treatment sites and waste battery exporters
*Battery = primary (single use) and secondary battery cells (rechargeable, accumulators)
How do these regulations affect me?
The Regulations affect different businesses in different ways. You need to decide if you are a producer, a distributor, or if you are involved in the treatment or export of waste batteries.
Producers
Producers may include manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and those who import batteries for sale in the UK.
Waste battery treatment operators and exporters
If you are involved in treating or exporting waste batteries, you may need to apply to us for approval:
Battery compliance schemes
Battery compliance schemes collect and arrange for the treatment and recycling of waste batteries on behalf of large producers. They register producers with the appropriate environment agency and ensure that recovery obligations are met. To find out more about becoming and operating a battery compliance scheme, please visit our battery compliance scheme section:
Distributors
If you sell batteries from the UK on a professional basis to an end-user (either the public or businesses) in an individual store, over the internet or via mail order, you are classed as a distributor.
From 1 February 2010, distributors of portable batteries/accumulators who sell over 32kg of portable batteries per year in an individual store must provide free in-store battery take-back facility for any member of the public who has some batteries to dispose of.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have appointed the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) as the regulator for battery distributors.
More information is available at:
You may email the VCA for advice:
or telephone their helpline on 08448 000 819.
Don’t forget, if you are a retailer who places portable batteries/accumulators – or products containing portable batteries/accumulators – onto the UK market for the first time (which generally means that you have not bought them from another UK supplier), you will also be classified as a battery producer.
How to report a business which is not complying
Call 0800 023 2090 if you know of a person who is not complying with their obligations under the producer responsibility regulations for packaging, WEEE or batteries.
Further information and advice
If you have an enquiry about the Batteries Regulations, please call our enquiries line 0370 8506506 or email:
For technical queries about how to use the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD) and for reporting problems, please telephone 0370 8506506.
