London - Retailers supplying portable batteries can now take advantage of a new online calculator launched by Defra to help them work out whether they have obligations under new legislation.

The new requirements that come into force on 1 February 2010 mean that all battery distributors who supply more than 32kg of portable batteries a year (the equivalent of one four pack of AA batteries a day), must provide a free take-back service for waste portable batteries, and inform end-users about that service. For those in doubt the calculator works out the weight of the number of batteries the retailer supplies in a year and if they are required to provide recycling collection points.

Defra has also produced downloadable posters for retailers, to help them meet their obligation to inform end-users about their take-back service. These posters can also be used by Local Authorities or anyone else who would like to advertise a battery collection point.

Distributors of portable batteries should also be aware that the VCA (an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport) has been appointed as the distributor enforcement body for battery recycling - their role, with effect from the 1st February 2010, will be to provide help and advice to distributors to help them meet their new obligations.

They will soon be making a help line available and information will also be made available through their website. VCA is also the regulatory body for the distributor obligations in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations.

The new online calculator can be found at defra.gov.uk.

Quelle: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (defra)

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