The current legislation specifies that batteries containing mercury, cadmium or lead should be collected separately when spent and should carry an identifying label. The Directive also sets permissible heavy metal limits and requires certain battery-powered equipment to be designed in such away as to make their batteries easily removable. Recycling batteries and their component parts is classed as waste. In addition, all lead-acid motor vehicle batteries are classed as hazardous waste. Some other battery types and many components of batteries may also be classed as hazardous waste due to their potentially hazardous nature.

There are additional controls on the storage, movement, recovery and disposal of these components. Examples may include the acid and alkali conductors from the batteries, the metal electrodes and plastic casing from the batteries if they are contaminated with residues of acid or alkali.

The Hazardous Waste Directive, effective 16th July 2005, requires by law that anyone disposing of more than 200kg of hazardous waste per year (equivalent to approx 15-20 automotive batteries) must be registered with the Environment Agency as a Hazardous Waste Producer. Your business must record and track all hazardous waste by means of Hazardous Waste Consignment Notes. This ensures that waste is managed responsibly from its point of origin until it reaches a suitably licensed or exempt recovery or disposal facility. The waste producer must keep consignment notes for three years. All businesses in England and Wales that produce hazardous waste must register with the Environment Agency before they consign their hazardous waste.

Current legislation:

• Co-disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste in landfill banned since July 2004
• Hazardous waste only permitted in landfill sites authorized to accept it
• Hazardous waste must be pre-treated before landfilled

Future legislation will result in the adoption of EU Batteries Directive by 26 September 2008 meaning:

• Ban disposal of untreated automotive and industrial batteries in landfill or incineration
• Rising collection targets
• EU-wide framework for national collection and recycling schemes
• Affects all involved in the lifecycle of batteries

Ling are licensed by the Environment Agency to:

• Carry waste batteries
• Dispose of battery waste

• Trained drivers (ADR) for transporting waste hazardous for road movement
• Suitable acid proof containers for battery storage

Ling are committed to providing customers with the best possible recycling solution in adherence with current legislation. We provide a professional, reliable, cost-effective service performed by dedicated, skilled and environmentally aware workforce.