When you recycle your household batteries, the valuable resources in the batteries are recovered and used to make new batteries and other metal products.
Where to recycle household batteries
Most supermarkets and shops that sell batteries will have collection bins for used batteries. Some town halls, libraries or schools may also set up collection points.
Look out for the Be Positive signs in shop windows and in stores to find these collection points.
Several local councils already collect batteries in the doorstep recycling collection, or provide bins at the local waste and recycling centre. Check with your local council to find out what battery recycling choices are available in your area.
We use approximately 41 million batteries in Scotland each year and the vast majority of these are sent to landfill (SEPA, 2005).
The average Scottish household uses between 19 and 21 batteries every year (SEPA, 2005).
89% of batteries are for general use and can be found in every room in the house (WRAP).
By 2012, all EU countries must collect at least 25% of household batteries for recycling, and this will increase to at least 45% by 2016. You can read more about these laws on the Europa website.
Battery Recycling Journey
Follow the battery recycling journey to find out what happens to your batteries after they are collected for recycling.
Find out more...
You can find the answers to our most frequently asked questions about batteries in the FAQ section of this website.
Most supermarkets and shops that sell batteries will have collection bins for used batteries. Some town halls, libraries or schools may also set up collection points.
Find out where to recycle in your area. >>>
Visit Sort It for more information on how you can Recycle your waste locally. >>>
Visit Remade Scotland for more information on how recycled materials are used. >>>
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