Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
If you are a producer of industrial and/or automotive batteries you must register with the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) using the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD) within 28 days of the first day that you place batteries on the market. The NPWD is an integrated system that maintains a register of all types of battery producer - portable, industrial and automotive. You can find the NPWD on the Environment Agency website.
National Packaging Waste Database
Producers of industrial batteries must offer and be ready to take back and collect waste industrial batteries from end users free of charge in the following instances:
You must publish details of how end users can contact you to arrange free take back and collection of their waste industrial batteries by 1 December of the year before you place batteries on the market. As a minimum for example, this information should be made available and easily accessible on your website.
Producers of automotive batteries must offer to take back and collect waste automotive batteries from final holders free of charge. Final holders include garages, scrap yards, end-of-life vehicle authorised treatment facilities, civic amenity sites or anyone else that removes automotive batteries from vehicles as part of their daily business.
If you intend to place automotive batteries on the market, you must publish details of how final holders can contact you to arrange free collection of their waste automotive batteries by 1 December in the year before you place batteries on the market. As a minimum for example, this information should be made available and easily accessible on your website.
All collected waste industrial and automotive batteries must be sent to an approved battery treatment operator (ABTO) for recycling, or to an approved battery exporter (ABE) that can export the waste batteries for recycling. Collection and transport may be carried out by appropriately authorised third parties.
For a list of ABTOs and ABEs, you can call:
If you store waste industrial or automotive batteries at your site, you may need a waste management licence or registered exemption.
You can register an exemption from waste management licensing if you store less than five tonnes of automotive or industrial batteries in any six month period. If you store more than five tonnes, you must have a waste management licence. The storage site must have a sealed drainage system and all storage must take place on an impermeable pavement, under weatherproof covering.
NIEA: Information on complex exemptions
You can register an exemption if you store less than five cubic metres of portable, industrial or automotive batteries in any 12 month period. If you store more than five cubic metres, you must have a waste management licence. If you store batteries, even for short periods, you must keep them on an impermeable surface with suitable weatherproof covering, or in suitable containers.
SEPA: Paragraph 17 Storage of specified wastes in a secure place
You must keep written records of the total amount of:
For each year that you place industrial or automotive batteries on the UK market you must send an annual report to BIS, using the NPWD system. This must be sent by 31 March covering the preceding calendar year and include the information above.
National Packaging Waste Database
GOV.UK: Battery waste - producer and supplier responsibilities
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) Regulations
Businesses affected by the batteries regulations
Identifying different battery types
Substance restrictions and battery labelling
Industrial and automotive battery producers responsibilites
Portable battery producers responsibilities
Portable batteries: distributor and retailer responsibilities
How end users can recycle batteries
Treating or recycling waste batteries
SEPA Special Waste Consignment Notes – updated position, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is now accepting special waste consignment notes (SWCNs) by email only.
DAERA Waste Policy Tracker, The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has published a Waste policy tracker to stay informed of waste policy developments.
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