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The Batteries Directive (91/157/EEC) is an attempt to improve the environmental performance of all persons involved in the life cycle of batteries. Among other things, it set targets for the percentage of batteries to be collected (25% of all household batteries) and recycled (75% of nickel-cadmium and 50% of all others) by ca. 2012.

A final consultation on the government's draft regulations to transpose the Directive into law is open until 13th February 2009 and responses to this consultation will help finalise the details of the Regulations, which are expected to be published in Spring 2009 and take effect from 2010.

The new legislation is also likely to prohibit final disposal of all industrial and automotive batteries into landfill or through incineration.

This indirectly means that all batteries from these sources will need to be recycled.

Bywaters can collect both segregated and mixed batteries.

For further information, refer to the Environment Agency NetRegs site.