Battery recycling is not something undertaken at a high level in the UK, with the exception in the case of car batteries. It is estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes of battery waste is produced every year in this country, at a rate of about 21 batteries per household, but battery recycling is only carried out on less than 1000 tonnes of batteries.
Battery recycling for car batteries is a different story, with about 90% being recycled. This also needs to increase for household batteries as disposing of them in landfill sites can have serious environmental consequences. Many batteries contain heavy metals which can leak into the ground contaminating water and soil and harming wildlife. Some battery recycling schemes are operated via kerbside collections so check with your local authority to see if this is the case. Alternatively they are often collected at recycling centres. Car batteries are often also taken at recycling centres or garages.
Battery recycling involves recovering many materials from the products for reuse. This not only stops contamination of landfill sites but also reduces the need for virgin materials.
As well as recycling the batteries you do use, also think about ways to reduce the amount required. Use mains power or rechargeable batteries (these are not suitable for all products such as smoke alarms) when possible or, alternatively, buy products which are solar powered or wind up, e.g. calculators or torches. Rechargeable batteries can also be recycled when they reach the end of their life.
