Batteries: Waste Disposal

Mr. Greg Knight
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what guidance his Department issues on the criteria to be applied to assess whether a battery is easily removable from an appliance under the requirements of the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009; and what guidance his Department has issued on whether models of the Apple iPhone on sale in the UK meet such requirements.

Ian Lucas
Government guidance notes to accompany the Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 were published by the Department in August of that year (URN 08/1130). These include an explanation of the requirement for appliances to be designed in such a way as to allow ready removal of their batteries, unless certain conditions relating to, for example, safety or performance, apply.

The notes also give answers to common questions regarding removability, but do not provide advice on every type of appliance, nor on individual products, such as the Apple iPhone. However, the appointed regulator, the National Measurement Office, has had contact with a number of companies, including Apple, to discuss the processes and procedures they have in place for ensuring compliance with the legislation.