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IN Britain, about 750 million batteries are sold each year with the
average family using around 30 batteries. Most of us simply bin the old
ones and there is a national recycling rate of only 2% for disposable and
5% for rechargeable batteries. These recovery rates are much lower than
those of some European Union states, such as Belgium and Holland which
recover 60% of their batteries.
In contrast, the UK’s collection and recycling rate for vehicle
batteries, however, is 90% as most are returned to garages or industrial
outlets because of their high recycled value.
Batteries containing heavy metals like nickel and cadmium leak in
the ground as their casing corrodes, causing soil and water pollution and
endangering wildlife. Cadmium, which is toxic to aquatic invertebrates,
can bio-accumulate in fish, making them unfit for human consumption.
Button cell batteries, containing mercury, pose similar dangers.
I am helping to amend an EU Directive in the European Parliament
that regulates the collection and recycling of portable batteries and
accumulators e.g. lead acid car batteries. Legislation is expected to
include a 100% ban on landfill or incineration of automotive and
industrial batteries and require member states to introduce a national
collection and recycling scheme to facilitate consumers to return, without
charge, used batteries.
As shadow draftsman, I have proposed amendments to allow EU nations
flexibility to aim for recycling targets of 65% by weight for lead-acid
batteries, 75% for nickel cadmium batteries and 55% for all other
batteries. The cost of collection, treatment and recycling would be borne
by the manufacturer. Local authorities, backed by central government in
the UK, would need to encourage British households to co-operate to
achieve high levels of collection in order to protect our environment. The
European Commission estimates the cost of collection and recycling to be
around £1 per British household per annum.
CHEAP CAR
INSURANCE UNDER THREAT
LOWER motor insurance premiums for women are under threat from
proposed gender equality laws being discussed in the European Parliament.
Women are seen as safer drivers by the insurance industry because
they drive shorter distances, have lower annual mileages and tend to drive
more slowly. Therefore, it is not surprising that the insurance industry
all over the world assesses the risk of accident and loss to be different
for women and men drivers. Similarly, irrespective of gender, premiums are
also lower for older drivers and for family saloons as opposed to sports
cars.
The EU proposals under discussion would make it illegal for
companies to take into account differences between men and women as
drivers, when setting premiums. This could result in an increase in
women's car insurance of between 10 and 15 %.
The insurance industry is in business to offer cover for risk of
specific drivers with respect to gender, age, profession, type of vehicle,
value of vehicle and geographic location. If premiums are priced
incorrectly, insurers will be unable to settle claims when they arise.
Like any other business, they should be free to price their product
according to their estimation of cost for the risk covered.
Equal rights for men and women are indisputable. However, equal
rights do not mean identical needs or responses. Gender equality is
important in areas such as education and employment, but it is
inapplicable in assessing risk for motor or life insurance.
The EU Directive on insurance should be formulated to facilitate business
to offer cheap insurance and for consumers to receive products that are
price competitive and have adequate guarantee of delivery. I shall play my
part in proposing amendments to ensure that common sense prevails and
premiums for women do not rise unnecessarily.
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