We are all becoming more environmentally conscious especially in the things we can recycle. Batteries are something that all households use and doubtless just throw in the bin when they are finished with.
A new Directive requiring the recycling of all batteries placed on the EU market is intended to prevent spent batteries ending up in incinerators or landfills and to recover various metal used in their production (COM (2003) 723). Because of the metals they contain, the disposal of batteries poses particular environmental concerns. Since thousands of tonnes of different metals are used in their production, collection and recycling of the batteries will also contribute substantially to saving natural resources. As existing legislation only applies to batteries containing certain quantities of cadmium, mercury or lead, it covers only seven percent of batteries placed on the market annually.
It is, therefore, likely that in the not too distant future we will all have to return spent batteries to collections points. Maybe we should follow the example of resorts on Lake Garda in Italy and have collection bins outside shops selling batteries.
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