Battery recycling in SouthwarkIn the UK we throw away over 600 million batteries each year. This amounts to 22,000 tonnes, the equivalent of 110 jumbo jets. Most batteries contain ‘heavy metals’ which when buried in landfill sites often leak into the ground when the battery casing corrodes. This can contribute to soil and water pollution and endanger wildlife.
What can I do with my batteries?
To reduce the number of batteries being thrown away, Southwark have provided battery collection tubes at the following nine libraries:
- Dulwich
- Nunhead
- Kingswood
- Newington
- John Harvard
- Blue Anchor
- Rotherhithe
- Peckham
- Brandon
Batteries can also be dropped off at the receptions of the Town Hall and the Council office at 30-34 Penrose Street, Walworth (opposite Somerfield car park). The Household Waste, Re-use and Recycling Centre at Manor Place, Walworth continues to collect household batteries in a large, battery-shaped container.
Which batteries can I recycle?
Batteries accepted
- All household batteries (single-use and rechargables – sizes AA, AAA, C, D, 9V)
- Laptop, mobile phone and watch (button) batteries
- Larger 6V batteries can also be accepted but will need a member of library staff to deposit into the tube
Please note that car batteries cannot be deposited at any of these collection points. These should be brought to the Household Waste, Re-use & Recycling Centre at Manor Place, Walworth.
Camberwell, East Street and Grove Vale libraries do not have collection tubes.
Battery recycling in the UK
The UK lags behind most of our European neighbours with a battery collection rate of between 0.5% and 2% of waste batteries collected for recycling. Other countries are achieving much higher rates (based on 2002 figures) of between 14% in Spain and 59% in Belgium. This is largely down to a lack of infrastructure. Southwark Council is one of only a handful of local authorities in the UK operating a battery collection scheme. This new initiative, with support from residents, is an important step in the right direction.
All batteries collected will be sorted in the Midlands and be recycled in mainland Europe.
Recycling for the future
Recycling more materials and extending recycling services are priorities for Southwark's Resource Programme, an ambitious project that will enable the council to recycle half of the borough's rubbish by 2020.
To find out more about future recycling and waste management services in Southwark visit our Resource Programme Information Centre from February 6, 2008 at
Philip Morris Buildings
Devonshire Grove
Old Kent Road
London
SE15 1JP. For opening times please call 020 8256 0023.
Contact us
For further information on how to recycle please contact us.
Recycling unit
Tel: 020 7525 2000
environment@southwark.gov.uk
30-34 Penrose Street
London
SE17 3DW
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