UK Statutory Instrument
2009
United Kingdom
Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
59 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides across 2 topics
Penalty landscape
8 of 59 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 51 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Manufacturer 18
- Operator 12
- Any Person 4
- Distributor 1
- Applicant 1
Plus 23 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Manufacturers also bound by 82 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 2011 27 duties
- Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 2017 25 duties
- Medical Devices Regulations 2002 2002 23 duties
- Lifts Regulations 2016 2016 22 duties
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 2016 21 duties
Operators also bound by 125 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 71 duties
- Payment Services Regulations 2017 2017 41 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 34 duties
- The Quarries Regulations 1999 1999 31 duties
- Reservoirs Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 2015 22 duties
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
Distributors also bound by 33 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 2002 19 duties
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 14 duties
- UK REACH Regulation (retained EU law) 2006 11 duties
- Electricity Act 1989 1989 9 duties
- Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (UK CLP) 2008 7 duties
Applicants also bound by 146 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 22 duties
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 20 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 20 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 12 duties
- Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 2017 10 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — GENERAL
Delegation of document-signing function
- Apply for approval to delegate document-signing authority Any Person
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Interpretation
Service of documents
Signature of documents: meaning of appropriate person
Modifications to the Waste Framework Directive
Part 2 — PRODUCER OBLIGATIONS: PORTABLE BATTERIES
Financing: portable batteries
- Finance the collection and recycling of waste portable batteries Manufacturer
Information provided to operators of battery compliance schemes
- Provide and update information for your battery compliance scheme Any Person
Record keeping
- Keep records of portable batteries placed on the UK market Manufacturer
Reporting: portable batteries placed on the market by a small producer
Unlimited fine- Report annual portable battery data and pay fees as a small producer Manufacturer
Duty to join another scheme on withdrawal of approval
- Join a new battery compliance scheme if your current one is cancelled Manufacturer
Treatment, recycling, record keeping and reporting after withdrawal of scheme approval
- Recycle and report waste batteries if your compliance scheme is withdrawn Manufacturer
Duty of the appropriate authority to determine and notify producer's share
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must calculate and notify your market share of waste batteries Statutory regulator
Declaration of compliance by producer
- Submit a battery compliance declaration and evidence notes Manufacturer
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 3 — OBLIGATIONS OF BATTERY COMPLIANCE SCHEMES AND REGISTRATION OF PRODUCERS OF PORTABLE BATTERIES
Duty of the appropriate authority to determine and notify scheme operator's aggregate share of costs
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Appropriate authority must determine and notify scheme cost shares Statutory regulator
Treatment and recycling
- Ensure waste batteries are sent to approved treatment or export facilities Operator
Record keeping
- Keep records of waste portable batteries collected and treated Operator
Reporting: batteries placed on the market by scheme members
- Report the amount of portable batteries placed on the UK market Operator
Reporting: waste batteries
- Report weights of waste portable batteries collected and delivered Operator
Declaration of compliance by battery compliance scheme
- Submit an annual declaration of compliance and waste battery evidence Operator
Form of an application to register scheme members or a small producer
- Register portable battery producers using the correct application form Manufacturer
Duties of the appropriate authority in relation to applications to register producers of portable batteries
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment Agency must process portable battery producer registrations Statutory regulator
Notification of changes to registration details
- Notify the authorities of changes to your battery producer registration Manufacturer
Declaration of battery producer registration number
- Declare your battery producer registration number to buyers Manufacturer
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 4 — PORTABLE BATTERIES: OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS OF DISTRIBUTORS AND OTHER ECONOMIC OPERATORS
Distributor's right to request collection of waste batteries
- Battery compliance schemes must collect waste batteries from distributors Operator
Right of economic operators to participate in collection, treatment and recycling schemes
- Battery compliance schemes must accept waste batteries free of charge Operator
Prohibition on showing the costs of collection, treatment and recycling of portable batteries
Unlimited fine- Do not show battery recycling costs separately to customers Distributor
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Take back
Part 5 — PRODUCER OBLIGATIONS: INDUSTRIAL AND AUTOMOTIVE BATTERIES
Take back: industrial batteries
- Take back waste industrial batteries from end-users free of charge Manufacturer
Collection: automotive batteries
- Collect waste automotive batteries and publish collection instructions Manufacturer
Treatment and recycling
Unlimited fine- Deliver waste industrial and automotive batteries to approved facilities Manufacturer
Record keeping
- Keep records of industrial and automotive batteries Manufacturer
Reporting: industrial and automotive batteries placed on the market
- Report weights of industrial and automotive batteries placed on the market Manufacturer
Reporting: waste batteries
- Report waste industrial and automotive batteries collected and treated Manufacturer
Registration of producers: industrial batteries or automotive batteries
- Register as a producer of industrial or automotive batteries Manufacturer
Application to register
- Register as a producer of industrial or automotive batteries Manufacturer
Duties of the Secretary of State in relation to registration of producers
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must process battery producer registrations within 28 days Crown / Minister / Government department
Declaration of battery producer registration number
- Declare your battery producer registration number to buyers Manufacturer
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 6 — APPROVAL OF BATTERY COMPLIANCE SCHEMES
Application for approval of a proposed battery compliance scheme
- Apply for approval of a proposed battery compliance scheme Operator
Further information in respect of an application
- Provide additional information for battery scheme applications upon request Applicant
Approval of proposed schemes
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Appropriate authority must approve or refuse battery compliance schemes Statutory regulator
Notification of determination
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must notify you of the decision on your waste battery scheme Statutory regulator
Effect and consequences of approval
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must publish battery scheme details and notify producers of approval Statutory regulator
Withdrawal of approval of a battery compliance scheme
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must notify you if your battery compliance scheme is withdrawn Statutory regulator
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 7 — DISPOSAL, TREATMENT AND RECYCLING
Application for approval
- Apply for approval to treat or export waste batteries Operator
Notification of decision
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must notify battery treatment/exporter applicants of decisions Statutory regulator
Application for extension of approval of an exporter to an additional site
- Apply to extend battery exporter approval to additional sites Any Person
Conditions of approval
Unlimited fine- Comply with waste battery treatment and export conditions Operator
Reporting
- Submit battery treatment and export reports Operator
Record keeping
- Keep records of battery treatment or exports for four years Operator
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Prohibition on disposing of waste automotive and industrial batteries in a landfill or by incineration
Requirement for approval of battery treatment operators and exporters
Decision in relation to application
Effect and consequences of a grant of approval
Suspension and cancellation of approval
Charges
Modification of the Landfill Directive
Part 8 — POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Information for end-users of batteries
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must provide environmental information to battery users Crown / Minister / Government department
Batteries evidence notes
Unlimited fineOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must approve a format for battery evidence notes Crown / Minister / Government department
Overarching objective: maximising collection of portable batteries
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must ensure battery collection targets are met Crown / Minister / Government department
New recycling technologies
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must support battery recycling research and technology Crown / Minister / Government department
Information for appropriate authorities in relation to producers of industrial or automotive batteries
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must notify authorities of battery producer registrations Crown / Minister / Government department
Reports and information provided by producers of industrial and automotive batteries
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must publish reporting formats for battery producers Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Increased environmental performance
Monitoring
Part 9 — DUTIES OF THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES
Registration of producers
Unlimited fineOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must maintain a public register of battery producers Statutory regulator
Information for appropriate authorities and the Secretary of State in relation to producers of portable batteries
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must share producer information with the Secretary of State Statutory regulator
Monitoring
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environmental authorities must monitor battery compliance and data accuracy Statutory regulator
General duties in relation to battery compliance schemes
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must publish approved compliance schemes and reporting formats Statutory regulator
General duties in relation to approved battery treatment operators and approved exporters
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment Agency must publish list of approved battery operators and forms Statutory regulator
Information: portable batteries
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must publish data on batteries placed on the market and collected Statutory regulator
Part 10 — DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 11 — APPEALS
Determination of appeals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must implement appeal decisions Statutory regulator
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Right of appeal
Procedure of appeals
Part 12 — ENFORCEMENT
Enforcement notices
Unlimited fineOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must issue a formal notice before prosecuting for battery waste Statutory regulator
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 13 — OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
Offences
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with battery waste regulations Any Person
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Penalties
Commencement of proceedings
Part 14 — AMENDMENTS TO OTHER ENACTMENTS
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Schedules
Browse 4 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- EEE producer responsibility (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Office for Product Safety and Standards (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Regulations on batteries and waste batteries (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Waste batteries producer responsibility (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Environment Agency
PrimaryEnvironmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law and issues …
Office for Product Safety and Standards
Product safety regulator responsible for ensuring consumer products are safe. Enforces product safety regulations, UKCA marking requirements, and works with market surveillance …
Natural Resources Wales
Principal environmental regulator for Wales. Combines functions of Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, and Forestry Commission Wales. Issues environmental permits, …
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