Batteries
Batteries contain heavy metals which, if disposed of incorrectly, can leak into ground causing soil and water pollution. This has major impacts on the environment and endangers wildlife and health human.
The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009, which are based on EU legislation, aim to reduce the environmental impact of the manufacture, distribution, use, disposal and recovery of batteries.
They set out what’s required for the collection, treatment, recycling, and disposal of all types of waste batteries such as industrial, automotive, and portable. The rules apply to battery producers and distributors, as well as to those who collect, recycle, or export waste batteries.
These UK Batteries Regulations and the accompanying Government guidance notes are referred to throughout this page.
In Scotland, separate regulations also ban the landfill or incineration of industrial and automotive batteries.
Battery producer registration
The National Packaging Waste Database is the central point of reference for information, guidance and advice for all battery producers.
It contains detailed information and guidance on how to register, current regulations and producers’ obligations.
In addition, a current register of Approved Battery Producers is available through the National Packaging Waste Database.
Approved Battery Treatment Operators and Exporters
Waste batteries, including portable, industrial and automotive, are required to be treated and recycled by an Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO) or exported for treatment and/or recycling by an Approved Battery Exporter (ABE).
All treatment facilities in Scotland must apply to SEPA in order to operate as an ABTO or ABE. For more details on this process:
- This comprehensive guidance (pdf 68 kB) advises operators on how to submit an application
- A register of ABTOs and ABEs is also available through the National Packaging Waste Database
More information is also available in Part 7 and Schedule 4 of the UK Batteries Regulations and on pages 50 to 56 of the Government guidance notes.
Exporting battery waste overseas
Any waste that is exported overseas for recovery must comply with EC Regulation 1013/2006 on shipments of waste and the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007.
Our page on Transfrontier Shipment of Waste (TFS) contains more information. If you require any further information, please contact the Producer Responsibility team below.
Battery Compliance Schemes (BCSs)
All BCSs based in Scotland are approve and monitor by SEPA. The requirements that BCSs must meet are detailed in Part 6 and Schedule 3 of the Batteries Regulations and from page 23 onwards of the Government guidance notes.
In addition, a current register of Approved Battery Compliance Schemes is available through the National Packaging Waste Database.
Effects on local authorities
Local authorities do not have obligations under the UK Batteries Regulations, but some already collect batteries and others may wish to start. Because of their infrastructure and experience in waste collection and access to batteries in household waste, they can be valuable partners for compliance schemes.
Through the financing obligation placed on producers, a funding mechanism and contract would need to be in place to ensure local authorities are fully reimbursed by compliance schemes for the relevant additional expenditure on any batteries collection service for local residents.
For consistency, local authorities may prefer to work with the same compliance scheme they use under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations. This is allowed, as long as the scheme is also approved under the UK Batteries Regulations.
Further details are available on page 41 of the Government guidance notes.
Public registers
The National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD) provides the public registers of:
- Obligated producers
- Registered Batteries Compliance Schemes (BCSs)
- Approved Batteries Treatment Operators (ABTOs)
- and, Approve Batteries Exporters (ABEs)
You do not need a login to the NPWD. Simply choose the appropriate link on the ‘Public Registers’ menu, enter the desired search criteria, then ‘Generate Report’.
Contact us
For any further advice or guidance on batteries, including exporting battery waste, applying to operate an approved BCS, or anything else on this page, please email the producer responsibility team