07 February 2012Environmentally friendly residents can for the first time easily recycle their spent batteries at retailers across the Sevenoaks District.
From 1 February 2010, any shop that sells more than 32 kilograms a year of disposable batteries in a year will take back used batteries from the public for free of charge. Most shops that sell batteries will have collection bins others will have collection points.
In the UK about three per cent of all household batteries are recycled. Most old batteries end up in landfill, where they can leak harmful chemicals like lead and mercury into the soil. This can cause soil and water pollution, which may be a health risk for humans. Recycling household batteries avoids this.
Many of the items we regularly use at home run on batteries that could be recycled, such as portable radios, watches, torches, electric toothbrushes and razors, among many others.
Cllr Avril Hunter Sevenoaks District Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for recycling, says: "Battery recycling is a fantastic way to help the environment. Virtually every retailer that sells disposable batteries will soon be able to recycle the old batteries of every shape and size. Not only will this mean the materials can be put to good use again, it should reduce the potential risk of pollution. With dozens of shops taking part across the District, it's going to be easy and convenient to recycle."
