Valpak’s newly launched closed loop battery recycling collection system - believed the UK’s largest – uses corrugated boxes made by Smurfit Kappa.
As of 1 February 2010, compliance with The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 became mandatory in the UK. The scheme aims to divert batteries from landfill, prevent chemical leakage into the ground and enable the recovery of re-usable metals.
Valpak, Smurfit Kappa and The Co-operative Group designed ‘innovative’ collection boxes for placing in community spaces, to make it easy to recycle batteries. So far, Valpak has installed more than 30,000 collection points and all Co-op stores will have a small recycling box, confirms the retailer’s waste officer, George Hadfield.
The multi-purpose corrugated box is lightweight, uses recycled materials and is 100% biodegradable and recyclable.
When full, its lid closes to seal the box to form a battery storage and transport collection point. Its cube shape allows for maximum use of vehicle space, it comes flat packed for bulk delivery and easy storage, and is ‘easily assembled’, says Valpak.
Flexo-printing with water-soluble inks achieved an eye-catching exterior to attract attention to the collection point.
The box also carries recycling information for the consumer, the collection point, the collector and the recycler.
After being emptied the boxes are collected for recycling to complete the ‘closed loop’.
Boxes holding 25kgs, 15kgs and 10kgs of batteries can be ordered by local authorities, among others.
“The Smurfit Kappa box struck us as a simple and logical way to collect, store and move batteries,” said Alan Taylor, customer services director at Energizer, the battery maker.
