Home> | Facilities Management | >Recycling | >Rules change on spent batteries |
Home> | Lift trucks | >Truck power | >Rules change on spent batteries |
ARTICLE
Rules change on spent batteries
12 December 2012
Gus Whyte, sales director - National Accounts and Systems at Hoppecke Industrial Batteries explains how the rules regarding disposal of batteries have been toughened recently.
Gus Whyte, sales director - National Accounts and
Systems at Hoppecke Industrial Batteries explains how
the rules regarding disposal of batteries have been
toughened recently
For many users of fork lift trucks, one of the main attractions of using lead acid batteries to power their vehicles is that they usually offer a set lifespan - typically around five years.
Then they can be disposed of and replacement batteries installed.
This has been the system for many years and it has worked without too many hitches - the batteries are picked up by a company that offers disposal services and payments are made, end of story.
However, new regulations from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - which came into effect in April - state that exhausted batteries must now be recycled and not sold to unregistered scrap dealers. In other words, companies now need to take responsibility for what happens to the batteries that they no longer want.
If they continue to dispose of them to a scrap dealer, that dealer must have a valid licence. If not, the transaction will be considered to be illegal and both parties could find themselves in trouble, with the dealer possibly banned from operating.
The changes have come about as a spinoff of the UK government's attempts to combat the increase in stolen metal which is handled by unregistered scrap dealers who fuel the market. Unregistered dealers will be "flushed out" and "dodgy businesses" shut down altogether, ministers have said.
These new controls on the recycling and selling of scrap for cash will help to protect users of lead acid batteries by ensuring the person who handles spent units is a legitimate, registered business capable of dealing with the batteries in an environmentally responsible way. Whether or not this involves making use of such options as Hoppecke's recycling service, the important message truck users need to understand is this - make sure you follow the correct path to disposing of your scrap or prepare for the consequences.
There is now no excuse for disposing of used batteries in the old-fashioned way - the emphasis is now and must always be the environment and what footprint we all leave on the planet. Companies with fork lift trucks can now make a huge difference to the impact their machines have on the environment. The government, the law and the industry are watching.
For many users of fork lift trucks, one of the main attractions of using lead acid batteries to power their vehicles is that they usually offer a set lifespan - typically around five years.
Then they can be disposed of and replacement batteries installed.
This has been the system for many years and it has worked without too many hitches - the batteries are picked up by a company that offers disposal services and payments are made, end of story.
However, new regulations from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - which came into effect in April - state that exhausted batteries must now be recycled and not sold to unregistered scrap dealers. In other words, companies now need to take responsibility for what happens to the batteries that they no longer want.
If they continue to dispose of them to a scrap dealer, that dealer must have a valid licence. If not, the transaction will be considered to be illegal and both parties could find themselves in trouble, with the dealer possibly banned from operating.
The changes have come about as a spinoff of the UK government's attempts to combat the increase in stolen metal which is handled by unregistered scrap dealers who fuel the market. Unregistered dealers will be "flushed out" and "dodgy businesses" shut down altogether, ministers have said.
These new controls on the recycling and selling of scrap for cash will help to protect users of lead acid batteries by ensuring the person who handles spent units is a legitimate, registered business capable of dealing with the batteries in an environmentally responsible way. Whether or not this involves making use of such options as Hoppecke's recycling service, the important message truck users need to understand is this - make sure you follow the correct path to disposing of your scrap or prepare for the consequences.
There is now no excuse for disposing of used batteries in the old-fashioned way - the emphasis is now and must always be the environment and what footprint we all leave on the planet. Companies with fork lift trucks can now make a huge difference to the impact their machines have on the environment. The government, the law and the industry are watching.
MORE FROM THIS COMPANY
- Optimal interaction
- Freightroute cuts costs by going green
- Low-maintenance lead-acid solution for heavy applications
- Bombardier signs long term deal with Hoppecke
- Tips to tackle early battery failures
- Manage batteries to avoid downtime
- Flexible access is essential
- Sustainable technology showcased
- Ideal cold store application
- Look at your options
OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS SECTION