Batteries - Single Use
Batteries - Single Use includes:
Batteries - HandheldFind a recycler
RECYCLING SERVICES FOR WORKPLACES
There are commercial operators that offer national collection services for the recycling of alkaline, lithium and button cell batteries. These operators generally provide a collection box for batteries, which once full can be collected. Carbon zinc batteries are considered non-toxic waste and are safe for disposal in the normal municipal waste stream.
Planet Ark offers a safe and secure collection box through Batteries 4 Planet Ark that is available nationwide. The box costs $89.95 inc GST, which includes pick up by courier. To find out more, visit Batteries 4 Planet Ark.
WHY SHOULD I RECYCLE BATTERIES?
There are a wide range of battery types, many of which contain toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury and lead. Others contain valuable materials like magnesium and zinc.
Recycling batteries keeps toxic materials out of landfill where they can contaminate the soil and groundwater. It also ensures the valuable materials in batteries are recycled into the something new, which reduces the amount of finite natural resources used in the production of new batteries.
80% of the batteries used by Australians are everyday single-use batteries. Buying rechargeable batteries is an important way to reduce battery waste. Each battery can be recharged up to 1,000 times, saving money and reducing pollution from discarded batteries.
HOW TO TAPE BATTERIES TO PREVENT FIRES
Even dead batteries have some residual charge, so it is very important to place sticky tape around the battery ‘terminal’ before recycling them. A battery terminal is the electrical connection point of the battery. They are located in different areas depending on the type of battery (at both ends of regular batteries, for example). To learn more about how to tape and safely store batteries, visit B-cycle.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BATTERIES WHEN I RECYCLE THEM?
Batteries that are recycled are processed to recover the plastics and metals, some of which are used to manufacture new batteries.
Envirostream, Australia’s first onshore lithium, nickel metal and alkaline battery processor, is able to recover 95% of the materials in the batteries for recycling. Any steel, copper and aluminium recovered is returned to the manufacturing sector for recycling, while the active components of lithium-ion batteries (including graphite, cobalt, nickel and lithium) are used to produce a valuable product called mixed metal dust, which is used to produce new lithium-ion batteries.
More Information
To find out more about Planet Ark’s battery recycling program for businesses and workplaces, visit Batteries 4 Planet Ark.
To learn about Australia’s national battery stewardship scheme, visit the Battery Stewardship Council.
