'New battery disposal law will protect environment' - Watson

11.17.17am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 10th May 2006

New battery disposal laws will protect the environment and wildlife from harmful chemicals such as cadmium and mercury, which are contained in batteries.

New laws agreed in Brussels will protect the environment from toxic chemicals contained in batteries which are currently being disposed of in rubbish dumps.

Speaking after the agreement was reached by representatives of the European Parliament and Member States (through a procedure known as conciliation), Lib Dem Euro-MP Graham Watson commented:

"This agreement will ensure that collection schemes are set up throughout Europe to ensure the safe disposal of the harmful chemicals used in batteries. Only 6 EU Member States currently have such schemes in place and the UK collects less than 2 out of every 100 consumer batteries.

"I welcome this directive as a big step in the right direction towards protecting wildlife from the harmful toxic substances, such as cadmium and mercury, contained in batteries. It is right that the industry should bear the cost of preventing these chemicals damaging our planet any further."

The European Parliament will have another chance to vote on the draft directive; but it is unusual for conciliation texts to be rejected.

Following the adoption of the directive, Member States will have two years to implement it into national law. The directive will provide for collection points to be established where consumers can hand in used batteries - including those from computers and mobile phones as well as toys - and obliges shops to provide a without-charge collection service from consumers.