BIG INTERVIEW
Retailers will not be charged to participate
and recycling partner, retailers that act as the collection network, and then all of the bike brands (known as Producers) who are financially and legally responsible for the safe recovery of what are classed as ‘industrial batteries’. “We said ‘right, we think we can set up a programme like
that’.” Building blocks
Since the BA made its announcement in March, things have moved on significantly with a number of updates. “What we’ve been doing since then is putting in place the different building blocks of setting up a national collection programme,” explained Holt. “We’ve been engaged on the supply side with around 30 Producers - suppliers of bikes - all of the big bike brands. We’ve been talking to retailers: generalist retailers, big specialist retailers and single store independents. “And we’ve been building a business model to hang all of
this together.” A key part of this process has been the appointment of European Recycling Platform UK (ERP) as the partner to set up and deliver this scheme. “They [ERP] are incredibly helpful,” said Holt. “They’re involved in several, different verticals which involve the collection of hazardous waste. And as strange as it seems to us, bike batteries are classed as hazardous waste. “It’s one of the reasons why if you ask a courier to go and collect a battery from somewhere, they charge you an exorbitant fee.” ERP has played a key role in helping the BA understand what the parameters are for retailers to consider as a part of this.
22 | November 2023 “What does the fireproof bin need to be? How big does it
need to be? What data do we need to collate from a retailer in order to have a correct picture of their business? Opening times, access restrictions? What batteries do they have at the moment etc etc,” said Holt.
“They’re up and down the high streets of the UK on a daily basis collecting batteries. So it’s quite good for us that we’ve got a partner, a third party, where all of that collection, storage, transport and ultimately recycling, gets looked after. “Over time, we want to report on the total collection amount that we’re picking up from the UK bike industry. We’re talking to ERP about what appropriate targets would be at the moment.”
North West trial
The BA is currently undergoing a trial of the collection programme in the North West at the moment where ERP are visiting 45 retailers.
As part of this, the retailer receives a UN rated fireproof
drum to store the batteries. The drum contains a product called Vermiculite that means it won’t go up in flames - that’s provided to them free of charge. ERP also provides some best practice storage and handling
tips.
When ERP are visiting those retailers they are also collecting any batteries the retailer needs to be removed, as well as help to inform the BA’s planned national launch next year.
“There is some urgency to this work because expired
batteries are hazardous,” said Holt. “For retailers, because there’s no solution, they are storing
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