Low Carbon: Battery bins to recycle where they are sold

Shops selling them must now provide collection points.

Just 3% of the 30,000 tons of batteries sold in Britain each year are currently recycled.

It means 600 million batteries a year go to landfill, where they can harm the environment.

The new European Batteries Directive aims to increase recycling to 10% by the end of the year, 25% by 2012 and 45% by 2016.

Manufacturers will pay for collection and recycling - but responsibility to recycle rests with consumers and shops.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "Many people don't know what to do with old batteries. It will be much easier to recycle."