This comes after the publication of its ‘An EPR of Everything, Starting with Batteries’ white paper. CIWM has warned that fires caused by thrown-away batteries are causing a major crisis for the waste and resource management sector, taxpayers and the communities they affect.
According to a recent study by Material Focus, 2023 saw more than 1,200 fires caused (or suspected to be caused) by batteries at UK waste and recycling facilities or collection vehicles, which was a 71% increase from the year before.
Eunomia said in 2021 that the cost of damage and lost time from these fires is estimated to be in the region of £158 million.
The CIWM white paper, based upon an extensive research programme report commissioned by CIWM and carried out by env23, identified the lack of clear and impactful consumer information; the dramatic increase of batteries in everyday items; and the failure of producer responsibility rules to keep pace with the changing chemistry and pervasiveness of battery technology as the three main reasons for their incorrect disposal.
Public support
Consumer research found that 40% of those surveyed chose the wrong option when asked how to dispose of an electric toothbrush. Where batteries can be removed however, 70% said they were much more likely to take their product back to a retailer or collection point.
The report cited a “strong” level of public support for the use of deposits for items such as batteries, with 51% stating that they would use the scheme on “all or most occasions”. A further 32% said they would use it on “some” occasions.
CIWM said that implantation of the scheme would be eased by the fact that the deposit value would only need to be modest, what with items such as toothbrushes and vapes being quite low value.
CIWM’s director of innovation and technical services, Lee Marshall, said: “The current targets for battery recycling are out of date, easily met, and amount to little more than a tick-box exercise for the manufacturers and retailers of these products. Championing extended producer responsibility and promoting the safety of our colleagues are key commitments from CIWM. We call on the new government to rise to the problem of addressing hard to recycle products and to prioritise the launch of a battery DRS consultation as part of a shared commitment to developing a more circular economy.”
CIWM has also called on battery manufacturers and retailers to “act immediately” and work with the institution in promoting safer, simpler and more effective recycling. It also highlights the need for “chemistry-specific” recycling targets to be introduced as part of the process of updating existing producer responsibility legislation for batteries.
An EPR of Everything, Starting with Batteries can be accessed here.
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