Greener Choices for Batteries and Battery Recycling

From torches (flashlights), to smoke alarms, to remote controls, to wireless devices, to many more. These everyday household items are typically powered by batteries. So what is the greener choice for batteries and how should they be disposed at end of life. Read on to find out.

Greener Choice for Batteries

The greener choice for batteries is rechargeables. Not only it save the hip pocket but it is also better for sustainability, and here is why:

• It is estimated that around 3,000,000,000 – yes 3 billion – batteries are sold in the US every year. 
• Panasonics eneloop claims of 2100 recharge cycles per battery.
• This means that every battery used was rechargeable then US users would reduce there consumption by 99.95%. Astounding figures.

 

Battery Disposal

The key point on battery disposal is that they should never be tossed out in the kerbside waste. The 2 main reasons for this are: (1) the heavymetals and chemicals in batteries are dangerous for life and (2) recycling saves resources.

So apart from taking to the battery collection point at the tip, where can batteries be taken for recycling?

The good news is that batteries can be dropped off for recycling at many different places:

• AA, AAA, C, D and 9V batteries: Aldi takes any brand both rechargeable and non-rechargeable.

• Mobile Phone Batteries: there are numerous programs that accept old mobile phones and their batteries. Check out Mobile Muster website, put in your suburb and the site will identify all the nearby drop off points such as Officeworks. Australia Post also has satchels for you to place your phone and batteries in free of charge.

• Computer Batteries: are accepted in the Battery World, MRI e-cycle solutions and SUEZ programs, and with computers and other accessories in various computer recycling or re-use programs.

• Motor Vehicle Batteries: are recycled through a national network of Battery Recycling Centres established by Century Yuasa, and at many garages (such as NRMA Service Centres), transfer stations and waste management centres. 

 

Would you like to know more?

• URL: Reduce Wastage – Soft Plastic Recycling, Another Non Yellow Bin Method of Recycling
• URL: EPA.NSW.gov.au – Community Recycling Centres
• URL: RecyclingNearYou.com.au – Batteries
• URL: Mobile Muster – Mobile Recycling
• URL: Century – Vehicle Battery Recycling