Individuals wishing to buy battery acid for lead acid batteries will no longer be able to legally do so unless they apply for and are granted an EPP Licence (Explosives Precursors and Poisons), as battery acid, or electrolyte, contains more than 15% sulphuric acid.
Inappropriate recycling operations release considerable amounts of lead particles and fumes emitted into the air, deposited onto soil, water bodies and other surfaces, with both environment and human health negative impacts. Lead-acid batteries are the most widely and commonly used rechargeable batteries in the automotive and industrial sector.
Who is affected? The main groups who will be affected by the regulations are people who place batteries or equipment containing batteries on the market in the UK. The requirements may differ depending upon whether the batteries in question are automotive, industrial or portable.
Lead-acid batteries are the most widely and commonly used rechargeable batteries in the automotive and industrial sector. Irrespective of the environmental challenges it poses, lead-acid batteries have remained ahead of its peers because of its cheap cost as compared to the expensive cost of Lithium ion and nickel cadmium batteries.
The batteries contain large amounts of lead either as solid metal or lead-oxide powder. An average battery can contain up to 10 kilograms of lead.
From 1st November 2018, it will be an offence for any unlicensed individual to keep or use battery acid (including small remaining quantities from a last dry battery purchase).