New guidance has been published (9 Aug) on how lead acid batteries must be managed to take account of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). They state that:
Where the battery case is made of :
- polypropylene plastic only – it should not contain POPs
- other plastics – for example acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) – it may contain POPs
If the batteries do contain POPs, then along with other waste types identified as being at risk – WEEE, fabric covered seating – the plastic must be destroyed.
You must destroy the lead acid batteries containing POPs, or the material containing the POPs, by sending them to either:
- an incinerator (D10 or R1 hazardous waste, municipal waste, or cement kiln)
- a metal smelter (R4) to destroy the POPs
The municipal or hazardous waste incinerator, cement kiln, must be authorised to accept POPs waste.