Battery compliance scheme operators responsibilities

If you want to operate as a battery compliance scheme (BCS) you must apply between 15 April and 15 May in the year before you wish to operate.

Your application must be in writing, signed and include:

• full details of the applicant
• payment of the scheme application charge.

All applications are subject to approval by either:

• the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)
• the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

What you must do

Duties of a BCS

You must:

• maintain data records of all scheme members
• make sure that all members have registered through the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD) 
• cover the costs of collection, treatment and recycling of all batteries that the scheme members are responsible for, and batteries collected in excess of these requirements
• cover the costs of an information campaign to let customers know what they should do with their waste batteries
• keep records of all batteries produced by scheme members
• keep records of all batteries the scheme has collected.

You must submit a declaration of compliance to the NIEA for each compliance period no later than 31 May in the following year.

• Northern Ireland: Information on becoming a BCS operator on the DAERA website
• Scotland: SEPA: Batteries