Disposal of lithium batteries (FOI)

​Request

A

What provision is there for the disposal of lithium batteries?

B

What is the plan to deal with scrapped electric cars as they have a limited life span?

C

Is a problem being created for the future generations?

Response

A

The Solid Waste section within Infrastructure and Environment Department (I&E) deals with lithium batteries through a number of different waste streams as detailed below:

• lithium batteries from portable domestic appliances are processed with our small waste electricals at an approved facility in the UK
• rechargeable lithium batteries (AA, AAA type) are included with other small portable batteries that are processed at an approved facility in the UK.

Discussions have been held with a number of processors in the UK who are able to accept vehicle lithium batteries for recycling processing.

No whole electric vehicles have been bought to I&E for disposal to date.

B

I&E are currently negotiating a new contract for operating the Waste Metal Facility, which will include the receipt and processing of ‘End-of-Life Vehicles’, both internal combustion engine and electrically powered.

It should be noted that no further information regarding this contract and work stream can be provided at present at it would be exempt under Article 33 (commercial interests) and Article 35 (formulation and development of policies) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 since the contact and policy are currently in the negotiation stages.

C

The Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 gives a right to request information that is held in recorded form, unless exempt. This aspect of the request poses a question rather than seeking information held in recorded form. Article 10 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies. 

Article applied

Article 10 - Obligation of scheduled public authority to confirm or deny holding Information

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if –

(a) a person makes a request for information to a scheduled public authority; and

(b) the authority does not hold the information, it must inform the applicant accordingly.

(2) If a person makes a request for information to a scheduled public authority and –

(a) the information is absolutely exempt information or qualified exempt information; or

(b) if the authority does not hold the information, the information would be absolutely exempt

information or qualified exempt information if it had held it, the authority may refuse to inform the applicant whether or not it holds the information if it is satisfied that, in all the circumstances of the case, it is in the public interest to do so.

(3) If a scheduled public authority so refuses –

(a) it shall be taken for the purpose of this Law to have refused to supply the information requested on the ground that it is absolutely exempt information; and

(b) it need not inform the applicant of the specific ground upon which it is refusing the request or, if the authority does not hold the information, the specific ground upon which it would have refused the request had it held the information.

Article 33 - Commercial interests

Article 35 - Formulation and development of policies

Information is qualified exempt information if it relates to the formulation or development of any proposed policy by a public authority.