Used batteries can be handed in for recycling at over 10,000 shops throughout the State under new EU regulations which come into force tomorrow.
Portable, mobile phone, laptop and even car batteries are covered by the scheme, which aims to ensure that one in every four batteries is recycled by 2012, with a 45 per cent target set for 2016.
Under the regulations, any retail outlet which sells batteries will be obliged to take back waste batteries of similar type sold at that outlet at no charge. There is no obligation on the consumer to purchase new batteries. Some 50,000 drop-off boxes have been delivered to supermarkets, convenience stores, jewellers, hardware stores and garages to facilitate customers.
Workplaces and schools, if they wish, can also be designated as collection points.
Leaking waste batteries will not be accepted back at retail outlets but can be deposited at any of 80 local authority recycling centres around the country.
Over 2,000 tonnes of batteries are sold in Ireland each year, the equivalent in weight terms of 80 million AA batteries. Most are discarded in rubbish bins instead of being recycled due their small size.
The batteries collected under the scheme will be sorted in Ireland and then exported to Continental Europe for recycling. Batteries are almost fully recyclable to make new batteries or other products.