Finalised data from the Environment Agency (EA) has indicated the UK exceeded its portable battery collection obligations last year.
The EA reported some 11,800 tonnes of waste batteries were processed by treatment centres in 2013.
This brought the collection rate to 32.37% of batteries put onto the UK market, exceeding a 30% target.
However, as in previous years the target was met by collecting a disproportionately high number of lead acid batteries.
Some 10,500 tonnes of those batteries, more than 88% of the total, were collected in 2013, while they accounted only for around 7% of batteries placed onto the UK market.
The industry fears that a new definition of portable batteries that will exclude lead acid from being eligible for evidence will impact on the UK’s ability to meet increasing EU targets for batteries.
Resource minister Dan Rogerson announced in a Defra Q&A session on Twitter in March that a new consultation on the definition will be held before the summer recess.
@360env Second consultation on portable batteries expected before the summer recess #AskDefra
— Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) March 12, 2014
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