Treating & recycling waste batteries

What you must do

If you collect, treat or recycle waste batteries you must comply with new laws that came into force on 5 May 2009.

You must not dispose of waste industrial or automotive batteries in a landfill or by incineration.

Check if you need approval

If you want to operate a BCS to collect, treat and recycle waste portable batteries on behalf of battery producers, you must apply to your regulator for approval. If you treat, recycle or export waste batteries, you must apply to your regulator for approval.

For further information, see our guidance on the battery regulations.

Further Information on treating and recycling waste batteries

• Batteries
• EU Batteries Directive
• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS): Batteries and accumulators
• Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA): Batteries
• SEPA: Batteries