Don’t Bin Your Batteries – Recycle Them Safely

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Don’t Bin Your Batteries – Recycle Them Safely

Batteries are essential to the smooth operation of our daily lives, powering everything from smartphones and laptops to toys and watches. However, when improperly disposed of, they pose serious risks to both safety and the environment. In fact, discarding batteries in your kerbside bin is not only dangerous but also harmful to the planet. Here’s why you should never throw batteries away with your regular trash and what you can do instead.

Why You Shouldn’t Bin Your Batteries

1. Batteries Cause Fires

Batteries thrown into kerbside bins are a major cause of fires. In fact, in NSW, on average, three fires a week are triggered by batteries being improperly disposed of. Cleanaway, a major waste management company, has reported that batteries—especially lithium-ion batteries found in devices like e-bikes, smartphones, and laptops—are increasingly responsible for fires in their collection trucks and transfer stations.

When batteries are compressed during waste collection or storage, they can catch fire. These fires can quickly escalate, especially when batteries come into contact with flammable materials. As lithium-ion batteries are energy-dense and contain flammable electrolytes, they are particularly hazardous.

According to Fire Rescue NSW, in 2023, 269 fires were linked to lithium-ion batteries in the state, including 45 fires so far this year. In March 2023, two people tragically lost their lives due to a lithium-ion battery-related fire in Lake Macquarie, highlighting the extreme dangers of improper disposal.

2. Batteries Pollute the Environment

When batteries end up in landfill, they can leak toxic materials like mercury, cadmium, and nickel into the soil and groundwater. These heavy metals are hazardous to both human health and the environment, contaminating water sources and harming wildlife and plant life.

3. Batteries Contain Valuable Materials

Instead of sending them to the landfill, batteries should be recycled. Batteries contain valuable non-renewable resources like lithium, nickel, and zinc—materials that can be reused to make new batteries and other products. Recycling 95% of a battery’s components is possible, contributing to the circular economy and reducing the need for mining these precious materials.

The Solution: Recycle Your Batteries

The good news is that recycling batteries is easy! Batteries should never be thrown away with regular household waste, but you can safely recycle them at B-Cycle or any other participating battery recycling drop-off point. By recycling your batteries, you help prevent dangerous fires, protect the environment, and save valuable resources.

Where to Recycle Your Batteries

• B-Cycle accepts household batteries such as AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, 6V lantern, and button batteries (e.g., from watches and hearing aids). They also take rechargeable batteries (up to 5kg) and easily removable batteries. For more details, visit B-Cycle’s website.
• For other battery types, such as mobile phone batteries, laptop batteries, lead-acid batteries, and larger battery types, use Recycle Mate to find the nearest drop-off point. Participating locations include community recycling centres, Officeworks, and transfer stations.

How to Safely Recycle Your Batteries

1. Tape the Ends: Always tape the ends of household batteries with clear sticky tape to prevent sparks and short circuits. This also helps prevent the risk of children swallowing button batteries.
2. Seal and Transport: Place batteries in a sealed box or bag to avoid leaks or accidental discharge. Make sure the container is securely transported to the drop-off point, and never leave it unattended in your vehicle.
3. Drop Off: Find your nearest B-Cycle drop-off point or other participating locations through Recycle Mate and take your batteries there.

By making the effort to properly recycle your batteries, you’re helping to protect your community, save natural resources, and contribute to a more sustainable world. So next time your batteries run out, remember: don’t bin them—recycle them!