ACS

ACS has written to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) this week in response to its consultation on the implementation of the EU’s Batteries Directive in the UK.

The Directive will mean that the majority of retailers that sell batteries will have to provide battery recycling facilities in their shops and organise for collection. Further, batteries are classed as hazardous waste meaning that health and safety training will be required in each shop. Currently BERR is proposing an exemption on environmental grounds for those retailers with a shop floor under 280 sq m and that sell less than 16kg per year – the equivalent of approximately 175 packs of four AA batteries.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “This level of exemption does not go anywhere near far enough to include the majority of local shop retailers. This figure cuts right through the middle of the convenience store sector and will be a burden on retailers calculating whether they are included under the Directive or not.

“The 16kg exemption is based on one battery sold, one battery returned. Retailer return schemes have proved time and again that they achieve nowhere near 100% return. In addition the UK’s target to 2012 is a 25% return rate. We therefore propose that the exemption should be increased to reflect this 25% figure – increasing the exemption to shops selling under 64kg.

“In addition we strongly dispute the impact assessment claiming that this will cost each store included just £10. This is going to be a regulatory burden on local shops in the height of a recession, adding red tape to companies at the time when they are most looking to the Government to reduce their administrative burdens.”