In December of 2007, Mark David Hatwood approached his council and asked permission to collect batteries on behalf of his community. After six weeks negotiation, Mark was given dispensation by both Cornwall Council and the Environment Agency to do this on a trial basis.

After more interest from local residents for the scheme and with support from Cornwall Council and SITA Cornwall the CoBRA^TM Scheme (Community Battery Recycling Alliance) was set up. 

Twenty months on, the CoBRA^TM Schemeto date has helped Cornwall collect over thirty tonnes of batteries ( with yields from each location increasing) and the scheme's growth continues as other councils around the UK take on the initiative.

After winning three national awards for this initiative, Mark has received an UnLtd grant to bring the CoBRA^TM Scheme – now the UK’s most cost effective council-led battery recycling scheme – to the rest of the UK, enabling other councils to take advantage of this hugely successful scheme totally free of charge*.

This is a free service to the public with no strings attached - except the wish to see the toxic contents of batteries recycled responsibly and not enter landfill.

At the end of January 2010, both Hertfordshire and Kent County Councils agreed to take on the CoBRA scheme. For more information on the scheme and future roll out dates click here.

Sourced from www.batteryrecycling-uk.co.uk or www.CobraScheme.co.uk