“Moixa Energy believes the EU will increase taxes on Alkaline batteries in the future to cover recycling and environmental costs, and help migrate customers to rechargeables, which are the fastest growing battery category and already account for over 30 per cent of revenue in some stores,” said Moixa Energy CEO Simon Daniel.

Moixa - which makes the USBCell USB rechargeable battery - claims Britain does not have the facilities to recycle batteries, which contain several toxic chemicals.

Daniel said batteries are a clear example of waste, with over 15 billion made and thrown away each year, the equivalent to a column reaching the moon and back.

“Whilst government departments, British Battery Manufacturers Association (BBMA) and environmental groups debate how to raise UK collection from the current two to three per cent to the 25 per cent required under the EU Batteries Directive, USBCell has already saved the UK several jumbo jets worth of future landfill,” a statement from Moixa Energy said.

Daniel said that the USBCell range was expanding soon to include other battery formats such as AAA, and is also being developed for application with leading mobile phone brands.