Why Is It Important to Recycle Batteries?
- by Joe Weber - updated on 8/12/2024
National Recycling Day is November 15th but there are things you can do to promote the recycling of used batteries all year long, like bringing your used batteries to Batteries Plus! Today we'll be taking a closer look at why recycling is so important and how you can help keep batteries and light bulbs out of landfills by recycling them at Batteries Plus. Plus, we've got some really exciting news to share!
Batteries Plus and the Department of Energy
First thing first, the news. This is too exciting not to share right away. In July 2024 the United States Department of Energy awarded Batteries Plus with a 3-year, $7 million grant to promote battery recycling in the United States.
What does this mean for consumers?
The biggest thing that our customers will notice with this new grant is that there will be much more access to battery recycling services in areas that weren't able to have a big focus on recycling in the past.
This is huge. This will bring our recycling services to more areas around the country. Stay tuned for more information on this grant and what it means for our stores soon.
How Do Batteries Affect the Environment?
Batteries contain chemicals and heavy metals that can be harmful to people and the environment if they are not disposed of properly. When placed in a landfill, these substances can contaminate soil, and groundwater, as well as lakes and streams. For this reason, it's against the law to throw certain types of batteries in your trash.
In addition, many of the metals used to manufacture batteries, such as cobalt, lithium and nickel, need to be mined. Not only are these substances non-renewable, but the process of mining them also gives off large amounts of carbon emissions, which contribute greatly to the earth's global carbon footprint. Recycling batteries helps to cut these emissions by reusing the materials in spent batteries.
Is Throwing Away Light Bulbs Bad for the Environment?
Similar to batteries, light bulbs that are not properly disposed of can harm the environment. Light bulbs can contain mercury and phosphor, which are toxic to people. If light bulbs are placed into a landfill, these substances can leak out into groundwater and drinking water.
Where Can I Take My Battery to Be Recycled?
You can recycle your old batteries and light bulbs simply by bringing them to your nearest Batteries Plus location. The batteries and bulbs we collect are then sent to EPA-certified processors where all salvageable material is separated and repurposed. Our Recycling Page can provide you with information on the specific types of batteries and bulbs we accept.
Keep in mind that due to differences in state and local regulations, there is some variation in the type of recyclables each store accepts. There may also be a cost for recycling, although this will also vary by location. For the most accurate information, reach out to your nearest Batteries Plus directly.
How Many Batteries and Light Bulbs Does Batteries Plus Recycle?
Every year, Batteries Plus recycles approximately 47.5 million pounds of lead acid batteries and more than 1.68 million pounds of all other batteries. We also recycle over half a million pounds of light bulbs and over 30,000 pounds of lighting ballasts annually.
We know recycling at Batteries Plus.
Battery and Light Bulb Recycling Tips
Here are some tips to make bringing recyclables to one of our stores a little easier.
- Keep battery terminals from touching; for alkaline and other small batteries, you can bag them each individually or place a piece of masking tape over the terminal ends.
- Avoid accidental sparks by keeping batteries clear of anything metallic or conductive, like coins, keys or other metal objects.
- If you don't know how to remove a battery from a device, bring the entire device to Batteries Plus and one of our associates will remove it for you.
- If you have a broken CFL or mercury-containing light bulb, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers guidelines on how to clean it up and take it to a recycling facility.
Batteries Plus Offers Recycling Services for Businesses
Batteries Plus also offers recycling services for businesses. Whether you're a small business or a large corporation with dozens of locations, Batteries Plus can help you with your recycling needs.
Our experts can help ensure that your company remains in compliance with all federal, state, municipal, EPA and DOT regulations. Check out our Business Accounts page for a full list of everything Batteries Plus can do for your business. If you like what you see, consider signing up for a free business account today!