Malta is still considered as one of the EU laggards when it comes to the collection of used batteries, according to new statistics released by the European Battery Recycling Association (EBRA).

The association said Malta collected less than one tonne of batteries per year year for recycling from about 125 tonnes of new batteries put on the market every year.

Portable batteries are considered to be among the most hazardous waste to the environment.

According to the association, Malta must roll up its sleeves if it wants to adhere to a new EU directive obliging member states to recover and recycle at least 25 per cent of portable batteries by 2012.

Wasteserv's efforts to install a battery recycling culture have till now proved insufficient, despite a specific battery collection scheme. Special bins are provided by Wasteserv through a number of outlets, where customers can dispose of used batteries. These are then collected by Wasteserv and disposed of safely.

Although Malta's battery-collection results are disappointing, the EU in general is not faring well.

According to EBRA figures, only 27,200 tonnes of portable batteries were recycled last year in all 27 member states. This amount must double by 2012 to achieve the European collection target of 25 per cent.

More than 200,000 tonnes of portable batteries are put on the market each year in the 27 EU countries and the average collection rate so far is only 13.6 per cent. However, five member states - France, Germany, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands - have already reached the 25 per cent collection target.

The new EU battery recycling directive entered into force at the end of last month and until now only seven member states, including Malta, have incorporated it into domestic legislation.

Apart from recycling targets, the new directive obliges distributors to take used batteries and accumulators back at no charge. The rules also determine how batteries must be recycled once collected. Use of mercury and cadmium in batteries is restricted under the rules and dumping car and industrial batteries in landfill sites is banned.

Batteries contain a range of metals which are harmful to human health and the environment, including in some cases hazardous heavy metals like lead, cadmium and mercury.