Manchester-based Mercury Recycling has launched a new battery recycling service to help companies deal with recent changes to hazardous waste regulations.

The company, which is better known for its lamp recycling service "Lampsafe", said it will recycle all types of batteries "in compliance with all current legislation".

It said it will satisfy client requirements under the standards ISO 9000:2000 and BS EN 14001.

Mercury's managing director Bryan Neill said: "All waste batteries are classified as Hazardous Waste and disposing of them responsibly requires specialist skills and equipment.

"For example, within the broad categories of single use and rechargeable batteries, there are over a dozen different chemistries and these need to be identified and sorted accurately as each battery chemistry requires a different recycling process," Mr Neill added.

Various types of batteries are listed under the European catalogue of hazardous wastes, which was adopted by the UK in July 2005.

Mercury Recycling has said it will tailor its new battery recycling service to meet the needs of each user, reflecting their turnover of batteries, and taking care of all necessary paperwork "to provide a full audit trail and meet the Hazardous Waste Regulations".