Battery disposal in the UK

[TooNice]

There seem to be more efforts made these days to encourage the recycling waste materials. I've seen disposal bins that only takes paper, glass and plastic. Yet for some reasons, I find battery collection points to be relatively uncommon even though it's not exactly the most environmental friendly item to dump. I am actually Googling where I can dispose of some AAA batteries, and I found one website that allows me to search for collection points (BatteryBack). Well, if I was in Aberdeen, I might as well forget it, they couldn't point me to a collection point there. But even in Central London, I would still need to travel some distance. I am sure there are other places not shown on the site, but it's a lot of work, and not very encouraging.

I am not sure if they still do it, but when I was in Switzerland years ago, I could just bring them to a supermarket (or at least the Co-op) which is efficient since most people will go to a supermarket at some point and it's not hard to bring some used batteries at the same time. Now I do tend to use rechargeable batteries these days, but even those need to be replaced eventually, and alkaline batteries are still handy as emergency backup. And I think many still use alkaline batteries out of the low unit cost and convenience.

[chicken]

I haven't looked for a while but you might find a recycling bin for batteries at a shop like Currys that sell a lot of battery-based items. They used to have them there when I worked there a few years back.

I just found this:

Dixons ( also Currys, The Link & PC World )
All 750 shops have battery collection boxes,
& take any battery they ever sold!
PO Box 795, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
Hertfordshire HP2 7YB

here: http://www.battery.ukf.net/address.htm

But it says "Dixons" so it may be as old as my own experience, or it may just be someone who finds the name-change from the original store's founder to "Currys.digital" as awful as I do.

[TooNice]

Ah thanks a lot. Strange that I never noticed those boxes before, but I'll make sure to have a good look the next time I go to a Currys

[360bhp]

Bit of a subject change, but can 'dead' car batteries be sold anywhere? Heard they pay about a fiver at scrapyards, deep charge them and sell them on. Got about 6 lying in the garden that I need to get rid of!

[torsionSW]

Have you tried asking your local council, A lot of libraries in my area (Westminster, Wandworth ete) have battery recycling bins.

[capt_cornflake]

I know it sounds a bit obvious, but have you tried asking at your local tip (or household recycling centre as they seem to called these days).

I know our local one has a bin for batteries, but it's quite small and tucked out of the way so easy to miss