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Battery Compliance Schemes

There are six Battery Compliance Schemes which have now been approved:

What is a Battery Compliance Scheme?

A Battery Compliance Scheme will collect, treat and recycle batteries on behalf of large producers (those placing more than one tonne of portable batteries on the UK market each year). They will also register their members with the appropriate environment agency and provide the necessary data in the correct format. They will be responsible for publicity campaigns, to raise awareness of the need to recycle batteries and to publicise their own collection arrangements. 

How do I join one?

If you are a large producer of portable batteries you will need to decide which battery compliance scheme may be most appropriate for you to join. You must be ready to join the scheme of your choice by 15 October 2009.

What exactly will the battery compliance schemes do?

Battery compliance schemes will collect, treat and recycle batteries on behalf of large producers (those placing more than 1 tonne of portable batteries on the UK market each year). They will also register their members with the appropriate environment agency and provide the necessary data in the correct format. They will be responsible for publicity campaigns, to raise awareness of the need to recycle batteries and to publicise their own collection arrangements.

How much will it cost?

It will be up to each compliance scheme to decide what they will charge their members to fulfil their obligations. We will charge Battery Compliance Schemes an annual subsistence charge, plus an element for each member. How they pass this on to members will be a matter for them. However, as with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive, the amount that the producers have to pay the scheme will be a combination of charges. These include a membership fee (the scheme’s own admin costs), our subsistence charges and the costs of collecting, treating and recycling batteries on behalf of the member.