Battery Categories

The chemistry of a battery refers to the chemicals used within it to provide the charge. When manufacturers describe their battery as Alkaline or NI-CAD they are describing the chemistry. There are 3 categories of battery listed below:

1. Portable batteries

The UK currently uses around 30,000 tonnes of portable batteries per year. These come in a variety of sizes, and more importantly, chemistries.

The current portable battery recycling rate in the UK is very low at around 3%. The new regulations set a challenging target of 25% recycling by 2012 and 45% by 2016. The recycling of portable batteries will be paid for by large producers, who will have to put in place a network of collection sites, or other means of collection to meet the recycling targets. This will be done through Battery Compliance Schemes.

Battery collection for recycling will be free of charge to consumers.

2. Automotive batteries

The term 'automotive batteries' refers to the batteries used in motor vehicles for the purposes of starting the vehicle, and powering the lights and indicators. They are sometimes referred to as SLI batteries (Starter, Lights, and Indicator) and are currently almost exclusively lead-acid batteries.

Due to the high levels of lead in these batteries, there has traditionally been a high recycling rate, currently around 95%. The current proposals for the UK regulations aim to support this level of recycling, while putting in place a mechanism for supporting the market if the value of the trade falls substantially.

3. Industrial batteries

Industrial batteries cover a wide range of battery and accumulator uses. Some examples of these are:

• Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
• batteries in solar-powered road signs
• batteries designed to actually power a vehicle

Industrial batteries can come in a wide range of chemistries and under the new regulations, they will be subject to producer take-back. The company that supplied the battery (or equipment containing a battery) will have to arrange for the recycling of that battery.

The Department of the Environment Food and Regional Affairs are the lead department on Portable batteries. You will find some more useful information on this category on their website.

The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills are the lead department on Automotive and Industrial batteries. You will find some more useful information on these categories on their website.