The share of waste batteries and accumulators collected for recycling in Switzerland has fallen again. In 2011, the collection rate reached only 67 per cent, after standing at 69 per cent in the previous year and 71 per cent in 2009, according to the most recent activity report put out by the Swiss battery management organisation Inobat. Last year's results put Inobat still further away from the 80 per cent collection target established by the Swiss environment ministry.
Inobat attributes the most recent decrease to the timing of battery returns and the accounting methodology and not to poor consumer participation in separate collections.
The system anticipates that the collection rate will pick up again for the current year. As of the end of April, the rolling annual collection rate had already reached 71 per cent.