Batteries, what you need to know!
Batteries are part of our everyday life; used both at home and at work they are a familiar product, but how much do we know about them?
Some batteries contain toxic metals such as cadmium and mercury, lead and lithium, which become hazardous waste and pose threats to health and the environment if improperly disposed.
AA Battery Recycling provide a simple & easy to use service.
Battery Regulation
The UK battery regulation 2009/890 is the implementation of the EU Directive 2006/66/EC which aims to minimise the negative impacts of batteries and accumulators on the environment.
The Directive establishes:
(i) rules regarding the placing on the market of batteries and accumulators
(ii) specific rules for the collection, treatment, recycling, and disposal of waste batteries to promote a high level of collection and recycling, by approved operators.
Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO)
You must be an Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO) if you:
- Treat and recycle waste portable batteries and want to issue evidence notes on them
- Treat and recycle waste industrial and automotive batteries
In the UK, sorting is a treatment activity, so any waste that includes industrial and/or automotive batteries can
only be sorted by an ABTO.
As an Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO) AA Battery Recycling are licensed to sort and segregate
mixed batteries.
Approved Battery Exporter (ABE)
If you export waste batteries, you may need approval to be an approved battery exporter (ABE).
You must ensure that the overseas business that accepts the batteries for treatment:
- Uses the best available technology to treat or recycle batteries
- Complies with all relevant health and safety, and waste management regulations
- Removes all fluids and acids from the batteries
- Stores waste batteries, and the materials that result from treatment, in secure, covered and impermeable areas.
- Treats or recycles the waste batteries to achieve the required minimum recycling levels
As an Approved Battery Treatment Exporter (ABE) AA Battery Recycling are licensed to export all types of
batteries.
Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO)
You must be an Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO) if you:
• Treat and recycle waste portable batteries and want to issue evidence notes
• Treat and recycle waste industrial and automotive batteries
In the UK, sorting is a treatment activity, so any waste that includes industrial and/or automotive batteries can only be sorted by an ABTO.
As an Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO) AA Battery Recycling are licensed to sort and segregate mixed batteries.
What happens to your Batteries
The batteries are weighed, identified and sorted into the various battery types and chemistries.
Once sorted, the batteries are protected from shorting and are packed into suitable containers for export to the appropriate processing sites.
AA Battery Recycling used several authorised battery recyclers who recover recyclable materials from the waste batteries.
