Producer and Importer Obligations

What is a producer?
Obligations under the battery regulations are not defined as B2B or B2C, but broken down into three types; portable, automotive and industrial. If a producer or importer places equipment incorporating batteries onto the Irish market, it will have producer obligations in accordance with the battery regulations.

Battery Producer Obligations
Producers of batteries have the following obligations under the Waste Battery Directive:

  • Register and renew registration with the Producer Register Limited
  • Declare the quantities of batteries placed on the market through the Producer Register Limited (WEEE Blackbox)
  • Finance the takeback and waste management of battery waste arising from batteries placed on the market. This can be managed by either becoming a member of a compliance scheme, or by self-compliance. Producers who join a compliance scheme are exempt from reporting to the EPA and from meeting recovery and recycling targets
  • Ensure that your batteries are compliant with regard to amounts of hazardous substances (Cadmium, lead etc.) they contain and are labelled and marked correctly
  • Marketing requirements – changes on labelling must signify contents and recycling labelling
  • Display the following sign at all retail stores, retailing batteries (including batteries incorporated into EEE) in a conspicuous position within 1 m of the point of sale (till) or where batteries are displayed.

For Producers selling batteries

Retailer and Distributor Obligations

What is a Distributor/Retailer?
A ‘distributor’ is any person that provides electrical equipment, electronic equipment, batteries and/or accumulators on a professional basis to an end-user. However, for the purpose of this page a distributor is referred to as a retailer.

Battery Retailer Registration

  • Registration is not required if the retailer only sells portable batteries (AA, AAA, Cell C, Cell D etc.) and no EEE.
  • Registration with either the local authority or approved compliance scheme for EEE also covers batteries provided that this information was made available to the compliance scheme during the registration process.
  • Retailers of automotive and/or industrial batteries, who do not see EEE, must register with either of the approved compliance schemes (once off, free of charge) or with their appropriate local authority annually, for a fee of €200 per annum.
  • For more info on retailer registration visit>>

Retailer Waste Battery Obligations

  • Retail outlets that sell batteries are required to take waste batteries similar in type to those they supply, even where the person depositing the waste batteries does not purchase a new battery.
  • This service must be free of charge to the consumer
  • They must provide conveniently located, appropriate facilities for the collection of waste batteries
  • They must not sell batteries from a ‘producer’ who is not in possession of a valid Certificate of Registration or a valid Certificate of Renewal of Registration from the Producer Register Limited

For Retailers selling batteries

How ERP makes it easy for your business?

Our solutions cover all aspects of battery recycling and can simplify processes for all businesses, small to large.

We offer free battery boxes and collections for your premises, and provide small producers with a fixed compliance cost for the entire year.

ERP services all designated collection facilities in the areas covered by its operations in Ireland to the extent of its members’ obligations. We define and set up the collection network which is managed by our operations team.

All retailers in ERP areas are provided with a free waste battery collection service, providing that they are registered with ERP or the local authority. Retailers and other waste battery collection sites are generally serviced by dedicated battery collection operators.

What happens to your waste batteries

Battery Collection Risk Assessment

Please consider any risks associated with the storage at, and collection of batteries from your premises. Please use the ERP Ireland Battery Box Risk Assessment Form to help you carry out your own risk assessment.

Battery Box Risk Assessment Form

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
Your use of the ERP battery collection and recycling service is on a voluntary basis, and is at your sole discretion and risk. It is your responsibility to ensure that you carry out suitable risk assessments and have adequate insurance in place to provide cover for any risks which are relevant to battery collection and storage at your premises.
You must take all reasonable precautions in relation to the collection and storage of batteries, and ensure that you comply with any relevant instructions provided by ERP. You agree that you will be responsible for any losses, liabilities, claims, demands, damages, fines and/or expenses which you or a third party may suffer as a result of any failure by you to follow any instructions or otherwise in connection with the ERP battery collection and recycling service.
To the extent permitted by applicable law we hereby exclude liability for loss or damage, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty or otherwise, even if foreseeable, arising under or in connection with your use of the ERP battery collection and recycling service, including in each case for any (i) direct loss or damage; (ii) indirect or consequential loss or damage; (iii) loss of income or revenue; (iv) loss of business; (v) loss of profits or contracts; (vi) loss of anticipated savings; (vii) loss or corruption of data; and/or (viii) loss of goodwill.
Nothing in this disclaimer shall limit or exclude ERP liability for any liability that cannot be excluded or limited by applicable law.

ERP Powers Positivity with ‘Batteries for Barretstown’ recycling campaign

‘Batteries for Barretstown’ is aimed at increasing awareness of battery recycling while raising much-needed funds for the children’s charity. The partnership hopes to energise consumers in their approach to battery recycling.

Funds raised by ‘Batteries for Barretstown’ will help to Power Positivity by funding the charity’s energy costs over the next three years. ‘Batteries for Barretstown’ will run in ERP’s 8 counties (Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Dublin Fingal, Limerick, Cavan, Clare, and Kerry). We have distributed newly branded little green Batteries for Barretstown recycling boxes across the country to schools, libraries and retail outlets to support the campaign. ‘Batteries for Barretstown’ will also feature in Lidl stores nationwide, with branded ‘Powering Positivity’ battery collection points in each store.

Testimonials

  • Lidl Ireland has been actively moving towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious business model and has also had a long-standing partnership with Barretstown Children’s Charity and the European Recycling Platform, so we are delighted to support ‘Batteries for Barretstown’.

    Deirdre Ryan, Head of CSR, Lidl Ireland

  • Being a member of ERP allows DixonsCarphone to feel confident that all of our WEEE and Battery obligations are fully compliant, whilst both environmentally responsible and cost effective for us as a large Producer and Retailer.

    Christopher Brown, Head of Recycling Operations and Compliance, DixonsCarphone UK & Ireland

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