Hazardous old batteries spark campaign

A project to keep used batteries out of household waste is being launched in the Wyre Forest district.

Recycling tubes are being introduced in four main council buildings around the district so that people can get rid of their spent batteries.

G & P Batteries, of Wolverhampton, has provided the tubes free to kick-start Wyre Forest Council's campaign, which officials hope will lead to more public buildings, supermarkets and local businesses becoming involved in setting up similar schemes.

Only up to two per cent of all batteries are recycled in the UK, and European directives are coming into force to persuade all local authorities to make more effort to divert hazardous waste, like batteries, from landfill sites.

Consumer batteries including AAA, A, C, D, button-cell and 9-volt varieties, both rechargeable and non-rechargeable, contain valuable and dangerous chemicals such as cadmium that can leak into ground water supplies as their casings break down gradually at tip sites.

This can lead to water pollution and endanger wildlife by entering the food chain.

The tubes will be sited at the Town Hall at Vicar Street, Kidderminster, the Civic Centre at Stourport, Load Street at Bewdley and also at the Tourist Information Centre in Bewdley.

Facilities are already available at the Household Waste Recycling Centres at Hoobrook and Stourport for batteries as well as larger mobile phone and car batteries.

But the tubes make it easier for people to dispose of household batteries without a lengthy trip.

Royal British Legion members aim to raise the profile of the scheme by standing with a recycling tube outside the Tourist Information Centre in Bewdley each Saturday afternoon.