Batteries and Accumulators
Waste Management (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations (S.I. No 268 of 2008) & the Waste Management (Batteries and Accumulators)(Amendment) Regulations 2008 (SI No 556 of 2008)
The regulations provide for the free take back of all waste batteries and accumulators, otherwise known as rechargable batteries, in-store and at designated locations, from 26 September 2008. Since that date -
o Members of the public will be entitled to deposit waste batteries at retail outlets.
o Retailers will only be obligated to take back batteries of a type they supply, for instance, retailers will not have to take back a car battery if they only sell batteries suitable for a torch or remote control.
o Members of the public will not be obliged to make a purchase when depositing waste batteries at a retail outlet.
o Members of the public will also be able to deposit waste portable batteries and waste car batteries from privately registered vehicles at local authority civic amenity facilities free of charge.
Retailers -
o must take back waste batteries free of charge of the type that they sell - for instance, if you sell portable batteries such as types AAA, AA, Cell C, Cell D, PP3 etc. you will not be obliged to take back automotive, industrial or small sealed lead acid batteries for alarms.
o of automotive and industrial batteries must register with their local authority.
o may deposit waste portable batteries free of charge at local authority civic amenity facilities.
Waste Batteries and the Retailer
WEEE Registration form for the Retailer
Importers of batteries must -
o finance the collection, treatment and recycling of waste batteries. This obligation may be undertaken individually or as part of a collective compliance scheme.
o Be registered with the WEEE Register - www.weeeregister.ie
Two collective compliance schemes, ERP Ireland and WEEE Ireland have been approved with the later responsible for County Kilkenny.
Should you have any queries in relation to WEEE, please contact Environment Section, Kilkenny County Council, 056-7794470 or environment@kilkennycoco.ie
