ver the last three years, a major collaboration between consumers, retailers and recycling companies has increased battery recycling levels by almost 15%. But ever-rising legislative demands will exert pressure on compliance schemes up and down the country to ensure the momentum is maintained.

The 2012 battery target for the UK now stands at 25% of batteries placed on the market, expanding to 45% by 2016. The requirement is legally binding, giving the Environment Agency the power to remove the authorisation of compliance schemes that fall short of these ambitious levels.

It will place the onus on retailers and compliance schemes to raise awareness of the environmental value of battery recycling, establishing it in the same league as paper and glass recycling.

The good news is that significant progress has already been made. When the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations came into force in 2009, only 3% of the 600 million batteries used in the UK each year were recycled. Recent figures from the Environment Agency highlight that the 18% recycling target for 2011 will be achieved.

Retailers have led the charge, with the regulations requiring large supermarkets to join compliance schemes and self-fund the collection, treatment and recycling of batteries as well as providing in-store take back.

The likes of Morrisons, Asda and John Lewis have signed up to the BatteryBack compliance scheme, the joint venture between Veolia Environmental Services and WasteCare, which has established more than 18,000 battery collection points since 2009. But more is needed if the new target is to be hit. Retailers and battery schemes will have to work in partnership communicating to the public the ways in which batteries can be recycled. They’ll have to spread the message to schools and businesses as well as in store.

Supermarkets are a trusted voice with consumers and could rally a huge sway of support from them. This will create an obvious halo effect for participating brands/stores, and avoid fines for the UK if the targets aren’t hit.

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