Batteries
Manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers have an Extended Producer Responsibility [1] for Batteries in order to control their levels of mercury, cadmium and lead, assist their recycling through clear labelling and ensure that on disposal they are properly treated and recycled, rather than being sent for incineration or to landfill, both of which are illegal. [2]
Battery and Accumulator Waste Arisings by Economic Classification (UK 2020)
Battery and accumulator Waste Arisings
- 1,750.7 thousand tonnes (UK 2020 per above)
- 1,190.0 thousand tonnes (England 2020)
- 68.0% of tonnage was from England
Data source: [3] Note Service sector tonnage for England 2022 appears to be incorrect.
Battery and Accumulator Waste Arisings (Waste Category and Economic Classification)
Commercial and Industrial* | UK 2020 | England 2020 | England 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
Manufacturing | 6.01 | 4.63 | 0.89 |
Water Treatment | 0.03 | 0.01 | 0 |
Services | 1,193.07 | 1,174.50 | 127.93 |
Total | 1,199.10 | 1,179.14 | 128.83 |
% Total and % England | 68.5% | 98.3% |
Municipal Solid Waste* | UK 2020 | England 2020 | England 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
Services | 1,193.07 | 1,174.50 | 127.93 |
Household | 8.03 | 7.06 | 7.71 |
Total | 1,201.09 | 1,181.55 | 135.64 |
% Total and % England | 68.6% | 67.5% |
All figures in thousand tonnes. Data source: [3] * See data limitations.
Categories of Batteries
The Regulations [4] cover all batteries, regardless of whether they are in products, and are divided into:
- A portable battery (sealed, weighs less than 4kg, not industrial or automotive, with a collection rate target of 45%)
- An industrial battery (designed exclusively for industrial or professional purposes, used as a source of power for propulsion in an electric or hybrid vehicle, unsealed but is not automotive, sealed but is not portable)
- An automotive battery (used as automotive starter, lighting or ignition power)
Guidance was issued in August 2022 on classifying portable and industrial batteries by the EA[5].
Macro Tonnage vs Portable Battery Data
The macro picture does not breakdown into the respective types of batteries but the National Packaging Waste Database[6] reports the data for portable batteries and the performance against the UK collection rate target of 45%.
In the most recently reported year 2024 for portable batteries the UK (published June 2025):
- 47,347 tonnes of portable batteries were placed on the market by 635 scheme members
- 20,200 tonnes of portable waste batteries were collected:
- 10,132 tonnes were lead/acid batteries (77%)
- 789 tonnes were nickel/cadmium batteries (2%)
- 9,279 tonnes were other types of batteries (21%)
- 45.1% UK collection rate achieved
The macro numbers are therefore distorted by the broader category that it represents.
Local Authority Waste
The Top 10 Authorities removing Paper & Card. Paper & Card includes the following sub groups of material: Paper, Card, Mixed Paper & Card and Books
References:
- Environment Agency Guidance: - Waste batteries: producer responsibility
- DEFRA Guidance - Regulations: waste batteries
- UK Waste Statistics
- The Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 (as amended) and Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 (as amended)
- EA, OPSS and DEFRA Guidance - Classifying portable and industrial batteries
- National Packaging WAste Database (incl. Battery Data)
