Valpak reports small battery recycling up by 32 per cent

Reconomy Group company Valpak, the UK’s largest environmental compliance scheme, has reported an extraordinary increase of 32 per cent in small batteries collected for recycling since the start of 2022.

Valpak has provided approximately 50,000 battery collection boxes to retailers, schools and businesses around the UK and analyses data for companies to assess how much is being recycled. Battery collections form part of the wider picture of environmental compliance.

Jon Clement, Head of Procurement for Valpak, said: “We have been collecting data on battery recycling since 2010 and, traditionally, we see a boost in numbers in January and February – post Christmas – followed by a slowing-down in spring, smaller numbers in the summer and then a build-up again in December in the run-up to Christmas. This year, however, there have been steady figures each month, and the number of small batteries in our recycling collections across the UK is up by 32 per cent.” 

The drivers behind the increase are uncertain. Clement said: “For obvious reasons, the numbers went down during the pandemic, but they have bounced much higher this year and we cannot say categorically why consumer behaviour is changing. However, we welcome it very much for the UK and for our customers. Overall, it is good news for UK battery recycling.

“Valpak has been working for years to get batteries out of the residual waste stream and into the recycling bin. Recycling batteries is important for the environment, and also to prevent lithium battery fires. If this message is being heard and acted upon by members of the public, this is a trend which we hope will become further embedded in UK consumer behaviour.”

Valpak runs ongoing consumer messaging campaigns, through #PowerToDoMore. It also provides local authorities and businesses with free battery recycling boxes and organises awareness campaigns in schools such as battery recycling art competitions. Valpak’s 

award-winning Re-Volt scheme is the world’s first zero-carbon battery collection scheme. 

It operates across four cities around the UK, using cycle couriers to collect batteries from businesses, free of charge. 

Jon Clement continued: “We will continue our work with retailers and businesses and will monitor the situation carefully. For now, this is very good news indeed.” 

To receive a free battery collection box, businesses and retailers should contact the national Valpak Customer Helpline on 03450 682572.  

https://valpak.co.uk

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Editors notes

●      Valpak is the largest environmental compliance scheme in the UK. It works with major names, such as J Sainsbury’s, ASOS, and Miele, and manages compliance for more than 4,000 businesses. In 2017, it celebrated its 20th anniversary

●      In 2018, Valpak was purchased by Reconomy. Reconomy is the UK’s market-leading provider of outsourced recycling and resource management services. It manages approximately 3 million tonnes of waste annually and works with thousands of UK businesses – from SMEs through to large blue-chip companies – helping them to manage their waste in a responsible, sustainable and cost-effective way. 

Reconomy principally operates across four key sectors: commercial construction, housebuilding, infrastructure, and business and industry

●      Valpak services include:

o   compliance under Packaging, WEEE, and Battery Directives

o   data management services

o   international compliance

o   recycling services (total waste management options and solutions for 

niche materials)

o   consultancy, and

o   accreditation under environmental schemes, such as Zero Waste to Landfill