Batteries And Accumulators Directive

[james.wilson]

The battery directive became law on the 15th October 2009.

From the 1st Jan 2010 it becomes illigal to send batteries to landfill.

My interpretation of this

If batteries are changed / replaced etc on site and the old battery is designated as a 'waste battery' (ie scrap) then a waste carriers licence IS required to transport this waste from the site to the disposal site. Also it becomes hazardous waste and the hazardous waste regulations also apply.

However if the battery is changed onsite and the battery is to be tested elsewhere ie at the 'office' to see if it is faulty, scrap or to see if the battery can be reused for another purpose, then the battery is not waste untill it is deemed so and CAN be transported without a waste carriers licence.

Im unaware of any legislation that prevents the client disposing of their waste batteries.

Installers must operate a 'take back scheme' for batteries sold, however i cant see any legislation that says the installer must transport this battery, you only have to accept it return. I suppose this may be difficult for those installers without an office etc.

http://www.netregs.g...egs/109269.aspx

The end-user (domestic and business) does not have a legal right of free collection from their premises (see WEEE Regulations August 2007).

[Guest RJBsec]

If you sell more than 32kg of portable batteries to end users per year, you have to allow consumers to return waste portable batteries free of charge to all your retail outlets.

"Allow" does not indicate that it must be done, only that it must be done if the customers requests it to be done - and it seems to refer only to the customer returning the batteries not the "distributor" taking them away.

[james.wilson]

you must allow the return of batteries. On this one we are classed as the distributer as we are selling batteries to the end user etc. There may be some additional digging required if yu dont actually sell batteries.

[Guest RJBsec]

Yes I get that, I'm happy for customers to return the batteries to my place of work (can't see many doing so when they can put them in their recycling bin though) - but where does it say that I have to take them away?

[A-G]

So my method is correct. I'm complying with all legal requirements ...... by doing nothing! Excellente!

[IAS]

looks deeper, alarm batteries are NOT "portable batteries" as defined by the act

[james.wilson]

looks deeper, alarm batteries are NOT "portable batteries" as defined by the act

go on then why?

Granted the industrial battery is a better fit, but what are the differences re this scheme?

[IAS]

as the man says

"A Portable battery is one that is small, and can be hand-carried, and is designed to be

changed by the user of the equipment.

If you have a battery for a piece of equipment which is clearly meant to changed by an engineer,

(e.g. if it is difficult to get at, has terminal wires attached, or labels suggesting that engineers only

should open the equipment), then the chances are it is an Industrial Battery.

The above is only a guide, and may not apply in every single case"

can`t have your cake and eat is guys, either they need an engineer in which case we have to deal with the battery or they DIY in which case obviously we don`t.

[james.wilson]

• A portable battery or battery pack is one which is sealed, can be hand-carried without

difficulty, and is neither an automotive nor industrial battery.

• An industrial battery or battery pack is one which is:

(i) designed exclusively for industrial or professional uses;

(ii) used as a source of power for propulsion in an electric vehicle;

(iii) unsealed, but is not an automotive battery; or

(iv) sealed, but is not a portable battery.

G&P Batteries suggests that the following guidance may help decide which category a particular

battery will fall into:

A Portable battery is one that is small, and can be hand-carried, and is designed to be

changed by the user of the equipment.

If you have a battery for a piece of equipment which is clearly meant to changed by an engineer,

(e.g. if it is difficult to get at, has terminal wires attached, or labels suggesting that engineers only

should open the equipment), then the chances are it is an Industrial Battery.

The above is only a guide, and may not apply in every single case. If you are in doubt about

whether your battery is automotive, portable or industrial, then contact either the producer of the

battery, your Battery Compliance Scheme or G&P Batteries.

So G&P are stating their batts for panels are industrial batts

But even so i cant see any difference regarding weee?

[IAS]

Producers are responsible for financing the collection,

treatment and recycling of waste batteries. Producers are

defined by the Directive as in table 1:

Nearest I can see is intruder/fire companies come in under the third option (but only just!)

From this then it is up to the "producer" to collect/recycle,join a sheme that does or to make an arrangement with the customer - such an arrangement might be an agreement that they will take the battery to their local authority scheme.

except "industrial batteries" are also "hazadus" (sic) and therefore even though I hold a "hasadus material handling exemption certificate" (sic) due to the small amount I handle each year (based on weight) I am not allowed to leave them to the customer to dispose of them.

Obviously this would be stupid with a AAA Duracell, hence the "portable" category

no-ones listening.