Introduce a national lithium battery return scheme and stronger disposal laws

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

We want a lithium battery return scheme and stronger laws governing their disposal. This should mirror the packaging return scheme in Ireland where retailers charge a recycling fee at point of sale which is refunded to the customer on disposal of the goods.

We want the Government to introduce stronger laws on the disposal of lithium batteries and require producers to take responsibility for safe end-of-life recycling. We also want a national deposit / return scheme for lithium batteries and battery-powered devices, similar to existing return schemes for packaging, where a charge is paid at purchase and refunded when the item is returned to an approved collection point.

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

Your petition is about something that the Northern Irish Government is responsible for. That means that the UK Government and Parliament can't look into it.

If you want to raise this issue you could contact your MLA, or raise it with the Northern Ireland Executive.

You can find contact details for your MLAs here: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/your-mlas/

You can find contact details for the departments of the Northern Ireland Executive here: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/government-departments-in-northern-ireland

Timeline

25 Mar 2026	Petition opened for signatures
23 Apr 2026	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21

Status Rejected

Department Department for Business and Trade

Rejected 23 Apr 2026

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