ERP urges individuals to recycle batteries used during Christmas

A new study from the European Recycling Platform (ERP) reports that only a third of households recycle batteries, while four out of five of the surveyed respondents said that they would do battery recycling if it was made easier.

For every 600 million used batteries per year across the UK, 40 per cent of them are purchased during Christmas to power electronic devices – such as cameras, and remote controls for DVD player and TV. ERP also reveals that only 3 per cent of the batteries are recycled, while the rest go to landfills.

ERP spokesman Scott Butler stated that batteries are in demand during the Yuletide season. He further said that Christmas time could be greener if individuals recycle their batteries, instead of throwing them in the bin.

A new EU directive, which will be enforced on 1 January, has already set recycling targets of 25 per cent for all batteries sold by 2012 and 45 per cent by 2016. In addition, it also requires any shop selling over 70.5lbs of batteries per year to collect waste batteries from customers, starting in February next year.

Currently, several UK retailers, like Tesco and Sainsbury’s, have introduced schemes which allow shop buyers to dispose used batteries at the stores’ drop off points.

Battery recycling is essential, as they contain corrosive chemicals that could possibly leak out of their casing.  The hazardous chemicals from the batteries leech into soil and might end up in the water system, resulting in a range of health problems to humans.