HC Deb 11 March 2004 vol 418 cc1627-9W
Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the environmental consequences of disposing of spent batteries to landfill. [156347]

Mr. Morley

The main environmental concerns associated with the landfilling of batteries relate to the potential generation and discharge of leachate into the environment of hazardous substances i.e. cadmium, lead and mercury, all known to be toxic to the aquatic environment and human health. Discharge of these substances to the environment are likely to occur through(a) the compaction of weight, leading to substances discharging from the battery and (b) percolation of rainfall further leaching these substances into groundwater. It is however worth noting that spent batteries constitute only 0.1 per cent. of the Municipal Solid Waste stream.

The Belgian Government recently commissioned a study Targeted Risk Assessment Report, (TRAR) currently under scientific peer review, to identify the environmental impacts of disposing batteries in landfill.

The TRAR study mainly focused on cadmium containing batteries and concluded that the impact of batteries on landfill leachate could not be judged, based upon current lack of knowledge and methodology. In addition, risks related to the uncertainties of hazardous substances from batteries going to leachate, would require the adoption of risk management measures.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of batteries were recycled in each European Union country in the last year for which figures are available. [156348]

Mr. Morley

Information on percentage of batteries recycled in European Union countries is not readily available for all battery chemistries. Member states have not been required to provide this in the past. However, officials are in the process of acquiring this data.

Portable battery collection rates are available for 2002 and are as follows.

Country Collection rate

in percentage of

sales in 2002

Grams per

inhabitant

Austria 44 179
Belgium 59 228
France 16 69
Germany 39 157
Netherlands 32 116
Sweden 55 193
Spain 14 61
UK 0.5 2

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many spent batteries, other than vehicle batteries, are generated each year in the United Kingdom; what quantity of each heavy metal is involved; and what percentage of these batteries are recycled. [156349]

Mr. Morley

No studies have been undertaken, so far, to assess the quantities of batteries that enter the waste stream annually in the UK. However, we do know that in 2002, 45.5 per cent. of the annual sales of the 15 European member states, went for final disposal (incineration or landfill) instead of being collected and recycled.

The following quantities of heavy metals are found in each battery.

Recyclable materials of portable batteries.
Percentage
Non rechargeable general purpose battery
Zinc 20
Manganese 20
Ferrous Metal 20
Copper 10
Non rechargeable button cell
Zinc 26
Silver 34
Ferrous Metal 30

Recyclable materials of rechargeable batteries
Percentage
Nickel Cadmium
Cadmium 15
Nickel 25
Steel 35
Nickel Metal Hydride
Nickel 40
Steel 18
Lithium Ion
Acier 22
Cobalt 17

The European Battery Recycling Association (EBRA) estimated that the UK sent 424 tonnes of nickel cadmium batteries, 45 tonnes of nickel metal hydride and 38 tonnes of zinc carbon, alkali and zinc air batteries for recycling in 2002.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the preparedness of(a) her Department and (b) the UK to meet the targets in the draft EU Directive on batteries and accumulators and spent batteries and accumulators; [156362]

(2) what steps she is taking to increase the percentage of batteries other than vehicle batteries that are recovered from the waste stream. [156346]

Mr. Morley

The draft Batteries Directive requires member states to achieve collection targets for household batteries (44 per cent.) and household Nickel Cadmium batteries (80 per cent.), and that all automotive and industrial batteries are collected and sent for recycling. At present, the UK is collecting less than one per cent. of household batteries and in 2002, 87 per cent. of the total automotive batteries put on the market were collected and sent for recycling. HMG will be commissioning work, in the near future, to obtain data on the collection and recycling rates of industrial batteries.

The Government welcome the draft Directive. Defra and DTI are already in talks with those stakeholders affected by the proposal and are looking at ways to secure early participation, to enable the UK to successfully meet the collection target within the given timeframe. In addition, both Departments are fully involved in discussions with the Commission and the European Parliament, to ensure that targets for the collection and recycling of household batteries are challenging, but achievable.

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