Euro-MP welcomes plans for first household battery recycling plant

11.23.05am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 20th Jul 2004

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has today welcomed the news that G & P Batteries are to establish the UK's first battery reprocessing plant for alkaline and zinc carbon batteries in the West Midlands.

These are the most common types of household batteries and can be found in products ranging from radios to remote controls. Currently the UK recycles less than 2% of household batteries, which means many are thrown away on landfill sites causing leaking acid to contaminate water and soil.

In April this year the Batteries Directive gained its first reading in the European Parliament, calling for a minimum target of 50% of all household batteries used annually per person to be recycled.

Speaking following the announcement the Liberal Democrat MEP said:

"I am delighted that G & P Batteries have decided to base their plant in West Bromwich. This will be a boost to the local economy and at the same time help the environment.

"Britain has an appalling record at recycling household batteries and it is great that G & P Batteries are taking the lead on this issue. I now hope at long last the UK Government will encourage other companies to do the same.

"I am today calling on all local authorities to provide a battery box for every household across the West Midlands so batteries can be recycled. We should be looking to develop alternatives and phase out alkaline and zinc carbon batteries, but the immediate priority is simply to make sure that we collect as many household batteries as possible and ensure that they are safely recycled."

ENDS

Notes To Editors

The Batteries Directive will be considered by EU environment ministers before returning to the European Parliament for a second reading.