FACTS & FIGURES
At present almost all used cell batteries for disposal end up in landfill.

It is estimated that around 22,000 tonnes of batteries will be sold in the UK in 2002, containing about 4,000 tonnes of re-useable zinc.

2% of consumer batteries are currently recycled.

The level of recycling of rechargeable batteries is still low (ERM estimated 5% in 2000)

Nine out of ten people would recycle more waste if it was easier

The cost of disposing of household waste is currently 5Op a week per household

Britain currently recycles 11 % of household rubbish -a quarter of what
I its northern European neighbours recycle

Household waste volume currently stands at 28m tonnes a year and is rising by 3% annually

If every human alive consumed natural resources and emitted carbon dioxide at the same rate as the average person in the developed world, then we would need at least two Planet Earths, if not three.

Britain produces seven million tonnes of commercial and industrial waste a year,compared with 29 million tonnes of household waste

27.7% of commercial waste is recycled compared with only 11 % of
household waste

Every year in England we produce more than 170 million tonnes of
waste from construction work, factories, shops and our homes.

Silver oxide button cells are collected by a network of UK jewellers. Roughly 75% of these batteries (5 tonnes per year) are collected and
recycled.

At present the majority of zinc production comes from virgin ore, which produces more sulphur dioxide during processing than when existing
zinc is recycled. By increasing the recycling percentage, it is likely that there will be a reduction in certain components in the atmosphere.