Citron SA and Loddon Recycling Join Forces

Swiss-based firm Citron SA, one of the largest battery recycling firms across Europe, has joined forces with Hampshire-based firm Loddon Recycling. Together, the companies will make battery recycling a simpler and more convenient process. Loddon chose to partner with Citron after executives saw the recycling facility first hand. They were also impressed by Citron’s claims of 100% efficiency.

The partnership will help the UK comply more easily with the EU Battery Directive, promoting the collection of portable batteries.

The scheme, known as Citron Recycle, will promote a “UK-wide collection network” developed by Loddon. Under the scheme, batteries will be transported to the port of Le Havre in Northern France, the location of Citron’s recycling facility.

The battery recycling process involves subjecting the batteries to an ‘oxyreducer’ process, which separates cadmium, lead, zinc and mercury at 1200 degrees Celsius, meanwhile destroying the presence of any “organic contamination” in the batteries.

Initially, Citron Recycle will be offered to local authorities and businesses, providing the opportunity for the organisations to recycle more batteries ahead of the introduction of new producer responsibility rules dictated by the EU Battery Directive.

Some have expressed concern about transporting the batteries across the Channel, questioning potential environmental issues.

Phil Stead, managing director of Loddon Recycling said: “Batteries would be brought back to the company’s Hampshire depot for sorting and, if necessary, repackaged before being driven 20 miles to Portsmouth harbour where they then cross the Channel to the Le Havre facility. All-in-all it’s roughly 60 miles in total and only has a small effect on the environment.”

For more information, log on to citron.ch.