The majority of electronic scrap and reclaimed electronic components are likely to contain hazardous substances, these include but are not limited to: You should only use 19 12 04 if the plastic output contains no non-conforming materials. Mixed batteries from treating WEEE hazardous substances at or above hazardous waste limits – you must classify the waste as hazardous waste

Follow the waste export and import guidance to move waste batteries or waste battery materials like lead plates in or out of the UK for treatment and recycling. Equivalent standards Dust and particulates from treating WEEE devices, or components, that are POPs waste may contain hazardous substances and POPs.If, having separated batteries from other waste, you wish to then treat the waste automotive or industrial batteries by sorting into type and/or chemistry, you must be an ABTO. Mixed loads Not quite. An equalization charge will get cells balanced at the fully-charged end of the scale. But it doesn’t keep them there as you discharge two different batteries in series. You also don’t want to do an equalization charge frequently. When you do, you’re overcharging the batteries to get them in balance so that a single cell doesn’t get discharged too far (good thing), but that overcharging does shorten the life of each cell (bad thing). What about Batteries with Shorted Cells?

You must classify any waste electrical and electronic equipment ( WEEE) that leaves your premises. In your waste transfer note or consignment note you must: Use the waste export control tool to find the regulatory controls for your battery waste’s destination country. details of your sampling methods, including how you work out battery weights, types, chemistry and contamination levels You must use weatherproof covering to store any items that may be reused as whole appliances or may have components recovered from them for reuse. The type of covering will depend on the types and quantities of waste but must ensure the WEEE is protected from the weather. It could be as simple as a lid or cover over a container for small items but in other cases may require the construction of a roofed building. electronic scrap (for example printed circuit boards, electronic components, wire etc.) and reclaimed electronic components suitable for base and precious metal recovery”Most of Europe has adopted the European Waste Battery Directive in much the same way as us, but here in Britain what should have been a straight-forward and beneficial piece of legislation has been turned into a regulatory minefield. Unlike the rest of Europe, in Britain we have four separate versions of the same regulations. Retailers, collectors and recyclers of batteries are faced with different interpretations of the regulations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. And the confusion doesn’t end there. The best storage and handling practices for batteries hasn’t been decided. The Health and Safety Executive has just announced that the Buxton H&S Laboratories are to research the storage and handling methods for batteries. The problem is that we do not know when they will give us the results, and it certainly won’t be before the new regulations come into force. You can only export waste for recovery. Exporting waste for disposal is not permitted. Recovery options for POPs waste are limited to techniques that destroy the POPs, for example incineration with energy recovery or recycling or reclamation of metals and metal compounds, under the conditions set out in Annex V Part 1 of the POPs regulations.

Where possible, you should locate storage areas away from watercourses and sensitive perimeters (for example, those close to public rights of way, housing or schools). You must not mechanically compact or compress untreated and unsorted SMW during storage and transport. This is to minimise the dispersion of pollutants and the risk of fires caused by damage to batteries. Photovoltaic panelsCovering may still be required even if you have a consent to discharge surface water to sewer or if water is tankered away. For example, to avoid leached chemicals such as POPs from WEEE plastic entering the water environment. You must store the following separately and securely from other WEEE in leakproof containers to prevent leakage and spillage: Read the guidance classifying electronic and electrical equipment to find out which categories of WEEE are known to be hazardous and POPs waste.

It’s important you accurately classify, issue evidence notes and report on the batteries you accept. See technical guidance. Issue evidence notes: portable batteries So when we start charging, all of the battery banks are very close to the same point as far as state of charge. Each battery acts like a resistive load, and current will flow to the battery with the lowest resistance, or highest capacity, more than the rest. All of them will reach the end of bulk charging together, when they’ve all reached the same voltage (remember, they’re connected together–they have no choice!). The following appropriate measures apply to specific WEEE categories in addition to those in the section 4.1. Gas discharge lamps If you treat an item of WEEE that has not been assessed or identified as POPs waste, you should manage the device and treatment outputs as POPs waste as a precaution. Non-ferrous ‘zorba ’ from treating SMW containing plastic, cable or printed circuit board containing hazardous substances

Returning your item

If you are assessing more than 1 item of WEEE, follow the advice on waste sampling in Appendix D Waste classification technical guidance. However, do not compare the chemical concentration in the component (as stated in Appendix D) to the limit, compare the amount in the whole item. The Environment Agency will update the technical guidance in the future.