Batteries data service levels 2026: Producer Responsibility Regulatory Services
Updated 9 April 2026
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A list of:
- data input requirements
- Environment Agency service levels (known as ‘outputs’)
Applies to:
- battery producers
- battery compliance schemes (BCSs)
- approved battery treatment operators (ABTOs)
- approved battery exporters (ABEs)
1. Batteries data service level: 2026
1.1 Battery compliance scheme (BCS) market tonnage quarterly returns: 2026
Deadlines for submission are:
- quarter 1: 30 April 2026
- quarter 2: 31 July 2026
- quarter 3: 31 October 2026
- quarter 4: 31 January 2027
Analysis and validation is based on:
- late or non-submission
- repeat offenders
- repetitive and late re-submissions
- portable batteries placed on the market by scheme members by chemistry type
- portable batteries aggregate share of costs by BCS
- resubmissions of 2024 and 2025 market data
Output: indicative obligation
Public reporting method: UK summary portable batteries placed on the market by scheme members in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Publication dates:
- quarter 1: 1 June 2026
- quarter 2: 1 September 2026
- quarter 3: 1 December 2026
- quarter 4: 1 March 2027
Output: final obligation for 2026 (to individual scheme), calculated using 2024, 2025 and 2026 data
Public reporting method: final 2026 obligation data sent to individual BCSs.
Publication date: 31 March 2027.
Output: total amount of portable batteries placed on the market by scheme members of each BCS
Public reporting method: final 2026 obligation data sent to individual BCSs.
Publication date: 31 March 2027.
1.2 Market tonnage small producer annual returns: 2026
Deadline for submission: 31 January 2027.
Analysis and validation is based on:
- portable batteries placed on the market by small producers by chemistry type
- small producer market data
Output: total amount of portable batteries placed on the market by producers
Public reporting method: 2026 UK portable battery data summary – final collection rate.
Publication date: 30 June 2027.
1.3 BCS portable waste batteries quarterly returns: 2026
Deadlines for submission are:
- quarter 1: 30 April 2026
- quarter 2: 31 July 2026
- quarter 3: 31 October 2026
- quarter 4: 31 January 2027
Analysis and validation is based on:
- portable batteries collected by BCS by chemistry type
- portable batteries delivered to approved battery treatment operator (ABTO) or approved battery exporter (ABE) by BCS by chemistry type
Output: total amount of waste portable batteries collected by each BCS
Public reporting method: 2026 UK portable battery data summary – final collection rate.
Publication date: 30 June 2026.
Output: UK summary portable batteries collected and delivered
Public reporting method: 2026 UK portable battery data summary – final collection rate.
Publication date: 30 June 2027
1.4 ABTO portable batteries quarterly returns: 2026
Deadlines for submission are:
- quarter 1: 30 April 2026
- quarter 2: 31 July 2026
- quarter 3: 31 October 2026
- quarter 4: 31 January 2027
Analysis and validation is based on:
- portable batteries accepted at each specified site for treatment and recycling by chemistry type for each BCS
- portable batteries accepted and exported for treatment and recycling by chemistry type for each BCS
- portable batteries treated and recycled at each specified site by chemistry type
- total evidence notes issued
Output: UK summary of portable batteries accepted by ABTOs or ABEs
Public reporting method: 2026 UK portable battery data summary – final collection rate.
Publication dates:
- quarter 1: 1 June 2026
- quarter 2: 1 September 2026
- quarter 3: 1 December 2026
- quarter 4: 1 March 2027
- 2026 final: 30 June 2027
1.5 ABE portable batteries quarterly returns: 2026
Deadlines for submission are:
- quarter 1: 30 April 2026
- quarter 2: 31 July 2026
- quarter 3: 31 October 2026
- quarter 4: 31 January 2027
Analysis and validation is based on:
- portable batteries accepted at each specified site for treatment and recycling by chemistry type for each BCS
- portable batteries accepted and exported for treatment and recycling by chemistry type for each BCS
- portable batteries treated and recycled at each specified site by chemistry type
- total evidence notes issued
Output: UK summary of portable batteries accepted by ABTOs or ABEs
Public reporting method: 2026 UK portable battery data summary – final collection rate.
Publication dates:
- quarter 1: 1 June 2026
- quarter 2: 1 September 2026
- quarter 3: 1 December 2026
- quarter 4: 1 March 2027
- 2026 final: 30 June 2027
1.6 ABTO industrial and automotive annual returns: 2026
Deadline for submission: 31 January 2027.
Analysis and validation is based on:
- late or non-submission
- repeat offenders
- industrial and automotive batteries accepted at each specified site for treatment and recycling by chemistry type
- industrial and automotive batteries treated and recycled at each specified site by chemistry type
Output: summary of waste industrial and automotive batteries accepted by ABTOs
Public reporting method: UK waste industrial and automotive batteries data summary.
Publication date: 1 March 2027.
1.7 ABE industrial and automotive annual returns: 2026
Deadline for submission: 31 January 2027.
Analysis and validation is based on industrial and automotive batteries accepted and exported for treatment and recycling by chemistry type.
Output: summary of waste industrial and automotive batteries accepted by ABEs
Public reporting method: UK waste industrial and automotive batteries data summary.
Publication date: 1 March 2027.
1.8 BCS declaration of compliance: 2026
Deadline for submission: 31 May 2027.
Analysis and validation is based on:
- portable batteries collected, treated and recycled in line with obligation
- excess portable batteries collected, treated and recycled
- scheme information campaign
- compliance with targets
Output: confirmation of compliance
Public reporting method: 2026 confirmation of compliance sent to individual BCSs.
Publication date: 30 June 2027.
2. Batteries data service level: compliance period 2027
2.1 BCS approval applications: 2027
The application period is open from 15 April 2026 to 15 May 2026.
Analysis and validation is based on:
- conditions of approval
- operational plan
- viable plan
Output: notice requesting further information served where applicable
Publication date: 15 June 2026.
Output: approval or refusal (to individual BCS)
Public reporting method: public register of BCSs.
Publication date: manual update within 10 working days of approval or removal.
2.2 ABTO and ABE approval applications
Deadline for submission: 30 September 2026.
Analysis is done within 12 weeks.
Output: approval or refusal
Public reporting method: public register of ABTOs and ABEs.
Publication date: 1 January 2027.
2.3 BCS notification of members: 2027
Deadline for submission: 31 October 2026.
Analysis and validation is based on:
- Environment Agency public register drop-off
- Environment Agency number, size, type and distribution of producers
- link to freerider monitoring programme
- Environment Agency BCS growth
Output: new producers notified of batteries producer registration numbers (to individual BCS through the National Packaging Waste Database)
Public reporting method: public register of producers.
Publication date: 1 January 2027.
Output: resubmissions
Scheme member resubmissions are processed within 10 working days.