Love your gadgets? – let’s recycle the batteries that power them!

Love your gadgets? – let’s recycle the batteries that power them!

As the world shifts towards renewable energy, our search for the best battery storage technology has galloped along. Our appetite for cordless gadgets and portable things has also grown in ways we could barely imagine a few decades ago.

What powers all this?

Batteries.

All sorts of batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, 6V button cell power tool, lithium-ion).

This may come as a surprise to you, but no battery should ever be put in your normal household waste or recycling bin. Mixing batteries with other waste can cause fires and is a hazard for the people and organisations who have to manage waste.

Batteries have a life span and must be disposed of with care. Batteries also contain valuable metals that can be reused.

Unfortunately, most end up in landfill where they can leak toxic materials into the soil and waterways.

The movement towards more product stewardship* has shone a light on the value of recycling batteries and keeping them out of landfill.

Australia now has an official battery recycling scheme called B-cycle which was launched in 2022.

You can find a spot to drop off batteries by searching by postcode on the B-cycle site. (Local supermarkets and the Thriftylink hardware store in Watsonia and just some of the places nearby) Bunnings also has a battery recycling service.

B-Cycle’s report on the first six months of the Australian battery stewardship scheme claims the scheme is a success so far and there is useful information about the battery journey.

Mindful use of batteries also includes understanding important tips about battery storage and why you need to tape the battery terminals to stop them from sparking and creating a fire hazard.

Batteries from some devices are considered ‘e-waste’. They can’t be accepted by B-cycle. These include mobile phone batteries, laptop or TV batteries, lead acid batteries and exit lighting.

If in doubt, check the resources below to find out more.

Resources

A CSIRO report on lithium-ion battery recycling

B-cycle website
Sustainability Victoria
Banyule Council Waste Recovery Centre
Darebin Council Recycling Facilities

Bunnings – where and how to recycle batteries

*Product stewardship is where manufacturers, retailers and users take responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products.

Written by Amanda Tattam