UK Battery Recycling Scheme Could Result In Prices Going Up

Retailers in the UK will have to provide recycling points in order that consumers can bring back old batteries. Which in the long run is expected to lead to a increase in the retail price of batteries or a loss in profits – expect the former to occur.

The scheme is introduced to ensure that Britain can meet EU targets to recycle 10 per cent of all batteries by the end of the year. However right now Britons recycle just 3% of the 600 million batteries used yearly.

In the event the UK fails to meet the target, the Government could face a fine of millions of pounds.

Vince Armitage, divisional vice president at Varta Consumer Batteries UK, said the fine will be passed onto manufacturers and could ultimately push up the price of batteries.

“Consumers will have to drive the recycling effort by taking their old batteries to dedicated collection points in retail outlets or municipal sites,” he went on to say that. “Not only is this problematic in itself, if householders don’t even know about the directive and the responsibility they have acquired overnight, then the whole recycling effort will fall down from the outset.”

The battery recycling scheme is anticipated to cost manufacturers around £3 million per annum as they are expected to collect and dispose of batteries – this could lead to a increase in the retail price of batteries.