Green boost for batteries

Date:  06 April 2010

Batteries can now be recycled at Abbots Langley and Sarratt Parish Council offices as well as at Three Rivers House in Rickmansworth.

In the UK, only about three to five per cent of all household batteries are recycled. Most old batteries end up in landfill, where they can leak harmful chemicals into the soil.

Three Rivers' Alison Page said:

"We have just increased the range of plastics which can be recycled at the kerbside and battery recycling is another area in which we are aiming to increase.

"I would also encourage people to consider using rechargeable batteries which are now widely available from ironmongers and larger supermarkets - these are both greener and cheaper than conventional batteries."

Since February larger retailers have been required by law to take back and recycle used batteries from their customers. The law requires shops selling over 32KG of batteries per year to take back batteries for reycling.

Used batteries can also be taken to Househould Waste Recycling sites www.wasteaware.org.uk0300 1234 051.

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