ALL SHOPS selling batteries will be forced to accept waste batteries from the public free of charge, even if replacements are not being bought, under a new EU directive that comes into force in September.
The directive, which aims to prevent harmful materials such as mercury, lead and cadmium contained in batteries from ending up in landfill, will apply not only to electronic and electrical shops, but to any newsagent, convenience store or supermarket that sells batteries.
The only stipulation is that the type of batteries being returned must be available for sale in the shop.
Announcing the directive, which comes into force on September 26th, Minister for the Environment John Gormley called on businesses to take a lead in providing space for receptacles storing waste batteries.
While shops cannot refuse to take batteries that they stock, it is the producers who will be responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recycling and environmentally sound disposal of waste batteries. The directive sets targets for battery recycling that require producers to collect 25 per cent of what they place on the market by 2012 and 45 per cent by 2016.
Making batteries easy to return should stop people from throwing them in bins, Mr Gormley said.
“Many people tend to hoard old batteries or throw them into the bin destined for landfill. Addressing these barriers will be important from the outset. High-profile, sustained public awareness campaigns by the producer compliance schemes will be critical.”
He also asked consumers to consider buying rechargeable batteries to minimise waste.
