Producers

Batteries are classified as industrial, automotive or portable. Pages 7 and 8 of the Government Guidance Notes (pdf link 342kb) give technical definitions of each class of battery.

Producers are:

  • companies with a UK presence that import batteries into the UK and then sell them wholesale (ie not to the end user) in the UK;
  • companies with a UK presence that import equipment which includes batteries (eg laptop computers) into the UK and then sells them wholesale in the UK;
  • UK manufacturers of batteries that sell to the general public and/or to retailers;
  • UK manufacturers of equipment containing batteries that sell to the general public and/or to retailers.

Producers of portable batteries

If you are a producer placing more than one tonne of portable batteries on the market each year, you must register with a Battery Compliance Scheme (BCS) and finance the collection, treatment and recycling of waste batteries in proportion to your market share.

Compliance schemes operate throughout the UK so it is not necessary for a Scottish company to register with a Scottish scheme.

Please see this current list of Approved Battery Compliance Schemes which is also in the Batteries Public Register of the National Packaging Waste Database.

If you are a producer placing one tonne or less on to the market each year you do not have to pay for the collection, treatment and recycling of batteries or join a BCS. However, you must register with SEPA on the National Packaging Waste Database. 

Producers of industrial and automotive batteries

Producers of industrial and automotive batteries and accumulators, including those in appliances and vehicles, must register with SEPA on the National Packaging Waste Database (the deadline was 16 October 2009). Producers must also register their details with the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS).

Industrial battery producers must take back waste industrial batteries free of charge from end users on request when:

  • supplying new industrial batteries to the end user; 
  • the end user is not able to return the waste industrial batteries to their supplier.

Automotive battery producers must offer to take back waste automotive batteries free of charge on request from final holders such as:

  • garages;
  • scrap-yards;
  • end-of-life vehicle authorised treatment facilities (ATFs);
  • civic amenity sites.

Producers of industrial and automotive batteries must also submit a report to BIS on the weight of batteries placed on the market for the calendar year. The deadline is 31 March of the next year.

More information for producers of industrial and automotive batteries is available from the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS).

Further details of Producer Obligations can be found on page 14 of the Government Guidance Notes. (pdf link 342kb)