Guidance

Batteries data service levels 2024: Producer Responsibility Regulatory Services

Updated 22 December 2023

A list of:

  • data input requirements
  • Environment Agency service levels (known as ‘outputs’)

Applies to:

  • battery producers
  • battery compliance schemes (BCSs)
  • approved battery treatment operators (ABTOs)
  • approved battery exporters (ABEs)

1. Batteries data service level: 2024

1.1 Battery compliance scheme (BCS) market tonnage quarterly returns: 2024

Deadlines for submission are:

  • quarter 1: 30 April 2024
  • quarter 2: 31 July 2024
  • quarter 3: 31 October 2024
  • quarter 4: 31 January 2025

1.2 Analysis and validation is based on:

  • late or non-submission
  • repeat offenders
  • repetitive and late re-submissions
  • portable batteries placed on the market by scheme members by chemistry type
  • portable batteries aggregate share of costs by BCS
  • resubmissions of 2022 and 2023 market data

Output: indicative obligation

Public reporting method: UK summary portable batteries placed on the market by scheme members in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Publication dates:

  • quarter 1: 31 May 2024
  • quarter 2: 30 August 2024
  • quarter 3: 29 November 2024
  • quarter 4: 28 February 2025

Output: final obligation for 2024 (to individual scheme), calculated using 2022, 2023 and 2024 data

Public reporting method: final 2024 obligation data sent to individual BCSs.

Publication date: 28 March 2025.

Output: total amount of portable batteries placed on the market by scheme members of each BCS

Public reporting method: final 2024 obligation data sent to individual BCSs.

Publication date: 28 March 2025.

1.3 Market tonnage small producer annual returns: 2024

Deadline for submission: 31 January 2025.

Analysis and validation is based on:

  • portable batteries placed on the market by small producers by chemistry type
  • small producer market data

Output: total amount of portable batteries placed on the market by producers

Public reporting method: 2024 UK portable battery data summary – final collection rate.

Publication date: 27 June 2025.

BCS portable waste batteries quarterly returns: 2024

Deadlines for submission are:

  • quarter 1: 30 April 2024
  • quarter 2: 31 July 2024
  • quarter 3: 31 October 2024
  • quarter 4: 31 January 2025

Analysis and validation is based on:

  • portable batteries collected by BCS by chemistry type
  • portable batteries delivered to approved battery treatment operator (ABTO) or approved battery exporter (ABE) by BCS by chemistry type

Output: total amount of waste portable batteries collected by each BCS

Public reporting method: 2024 UK portable battery data summary – final collection rate.

Publication date: 27 June 2025.

Output: UK summary portable batteries collected and delivered

Public reporting method: 2024 UK portable battery data summary – final collection rate.

Publication date: 27 June 2025.

1.4 ABTO portable batteries quarterly returns: 2024

Deadlines for submission are:

  • quarter 1: 30 April 2024
  • quarter 2: 31 July 2024
  • quarter 3: 31 October 2024
  • quarter 4: 31 January 2025

Analysis and validation is based on:

  • portable batteries accepted at each specified site for treatment and recycling by chemistry type for each BCS
  • portable batteries accepted and exported for treatment and recycling by chemistry type for each BCS
  • portable batteries treated and recycled at each specified site by chemistry type
  • total evidence notes issued

Output: UK summary of portable batteries accepted by ABTOs or ABEs

Public reporting method: 2023 UK portable battery data summary – final collection rate.

Publication dates:

  • quarter 1: 31 May 2024
  • quarter 2: 30 August 2024
  • quarter 3: 29 November 2024
  • quarter 4: 28 February 2025
  • 2023 final: 27 June 2025

1.5 ABE portable batteries quarterly returns: 2024

Deadlines for submission are:

  • quarter 1: 30 April 2024
  • quarter 2: 31 July 2024
  • quarter 3: 31 October 2024
  • quarter 4: 31 January 2025

Analysis and validation is based on:

  • portable batteries accepted at each specified site for treatment and recycling by chemistry type for each BCS
  • portable batteries accepted and exported for treatment and recycling by chemistry type for each BCS
  • portable batteries treated and recycled at each specified site by chemistry type
  • total evidence notes issued

Output: UK summary of portable batteries accepted by ABTOs or ABEs

Public reporting method: 2024 UK portable battery data summary – final collection rate.

Publication dates:

  • quarter 1: 31 May 2024
  • quarter 2: 30 August 2024
  • quarter 3: 29 November 2024
  • quarter 4: 28 February 2025
  • 2024 final: 27 June 2025

1.6 ABTO industrial and automotive annual returns: 2024

Deadline for submission: 31 January 2025.

Analysis and validation is based on:

  • late or non-submission
  • repeat offenders
  • industrial and automotive batteries accepted at each specified site for treatment and recycling by chemistry type
  • industrial and automotive batteries treated and recycled at each specified site by chemistry type

Output: summary of waste industrial and automotive batteries accepted by ABTOs

Public reporting method: UK waste industrial and automotive batteries data summary.

Publication date: 28 February 2025.

1.7 ABE industrial and automotive annual returns: 2024

Deadline for submission: 31 January 2025.

Analysis and validation is based on industrial and automotive batteries accepted and exported for treatment and recycling by chemistry type.

Output: summary of waste industrial and automotive batteries accepted by ABEs

Public reporting method: UK waste industrial and automotive batteries data summary.

Publication date: 28 February 2025.

BCS declaration of compliance: 2024

Deadline for submission: 31 May 2025.

Analysis and validation is based on:

  • portable batteries collected, treated and recycled in line with obligation
  • excess portable batteries collected, treated and recycled
  • scheme information campaign
  • compliance with targets

Output: confirmation of compliance

Public reporting method: 2024 confirmation of compliance sent to individual BCSs.

Publication date: 27 June 2025.

2. Batteries data service level: compliance period 2025

2.1 BCS approval applications: 2025

The application period is open from 15 April 2024 to 15 May 2024.

Analysis and validation is based on:

  • conditions of approval
  • operational plan
  • viable plan

Output: notice requesting further information served where applicable

Publication date: 14 June 2024.

Output: approval or refusal (to individual BCS)

Public reporting method: public register of BCSs.

Publication date: manual update within 10 working days of approval or removal.

2.2 ABTO and ABE approval applications

Deadline for submission: 30 September 2024.

Analysis is done within 12 weeks.

Output: approval or refusal

Public reporting method: public register of ABTOs and ABEs.

Publication date: 1 January 2025.

2.3 BCS notification of members: 2025

Deadline for submission: 31 October 2024.

Analysis and validation is based on:

  • Environment Agency public register drop-off
  • Environment Agency number, size, type and distribution of producers
  • link to freerider monitoring programme
  • Environment Agency BCS growth

Output: new producers notified of batteries producer registration numbers (to individual BCS through the National Packaging Waste Database)

Public reporting method: public register of producers.

Publication date: 1 January 2025.

Output: resubmissions

Scheme member resubmissions are processed within 10 working days.