Batteries from businesses still in residual waste too often

Companies still discard batteries and accumulators with their residual waste all too often. This is a shame, because batteries are full of usable metals, such as iron, lead, zinc, manganese, cobalt, and nickel. These metals are needed for making new products, including bicycles, taps, pans, spectacle frames, but also pipes, cables, and guttering. In addition, new rules on commercial waste came into force this year, making waste separation mandatory in many cases. To tackle this issue, Stichting Stibat Services, the organisation that collects, sorts, and recycles discarded batteries and accumulators in the Netherlands, is starting a campaign aimed at the business community today. Companies can register to receive the Battery Collection Unit for Businesses for free during the course of this campaign.

Although many companies want to be sustainable, waste separation and collection is not always managed properly. The SMEs in particular have got some catching up to do. Batteries are mostly lying around in desk drawers and cupboards, or are being disposed of in the bin. The batteries then end up in the incinerator with the residual waste and can no longer be recycled. What’s more, it is not safe to dispose of batteries in the bin: a short circuit could cause a fire.

National Waste Management Plan amended policy framework (LAP3)

New rules for waste separation came into force this year. These rules depend on the business situation, but most companies are required to separate their day-to-day waste flows. Batteries must be disposed of separately. On 2 March 2021, the amended LAP3 came into force: the national waste management plan as set out by the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management.

Battery Collection Unit for Businesses

The Battery Collection Unit for Businesses is an accessible tool offered by Stibat Services to facilitate collection. Companies can order this unit for free for the duration of the campaign, which starts today.

“Business owners are often unaware of the large quantities of discarded batteries and accumulators around the office. Our campaign aims to create more awareness and call on business owners to contribute to a more sustainable world. It’s a small effort to give the metals from batteries a second life,” says Arie de Jong, director of Stibat Services.

SME appeal

‘Are you passionate about your business as well as the environment? Then order the Battery Collection Unit for Businesses for your office now.’ Stibat Services sends an appeal to all SMEs. From 15 November until 15 December, the Collection Unit is available for free. You will receive the Collection Unit together with a promotion kit to encourage colleagues to hand in their used batteries and accumulators. More information can be found at www.batterijbewaarbox.nl.

As soon as the Battery Collection Unit for Businesses is full, the batteries can be taken to one of the more than 25,000 Stibat Services collection points, or collected by the company’s waste collector. In the case of the latter, the batteries and accumulators will still end up with Stibat Services, and we then make sure that they are recycled safely and responsibly.