Think before you throw away batteries

Ellie Mitchell

July 14, 2020

Why battery recycling matters

It’s far too easy to throw portable batteries into a waste bin when they reach end of life. After all they take up little space and what harm can one little battery do? The stark truth is far too many householders are oblivious to the damage waste batteries can cause to human health, wildlife and the environment if they are disposed of incorrectly.

Our aim here at recycle-more HQ is to encourage the public to think before they throw and to make consumers aware of all available battery recycling routes.

We have listed six key reasons why you should recycle your waste batteries. Read on to find out more…

1. Portable batteries can cause fires

Fire-related incidents at Material Recovery Facilities are a frequent occurrence and often point to portable waste batteries (mainly lithium batteries found in items such as mobile phones) that have been incorrectly disposed of in general waste bins.

These fires are costing councils crucial funds, as damaged vehicles subsequently need to be replaced and remediation works need to be carried out — not to mention the danger posed to waste collection crews and site workers.

2. Batteries contain harmful chemicals

Batteries are hazardous to human health, wildlife and the environment if they end up in landfill as a result of being placed in a waste bin.

They contain harmful chemicals, including acids and heavy metals such as lead and mercury, which can leak into soil as batteries break down. These toxins can pollute water sources and enter the food chain.

It can take over 100 years for a battery to fully decompose in landfill.

3. Recycling batteries reduces demand for raw materials

Recovering materials from waste batteries reduces the need to mine virgin resources to manufacture new ones.

Recycling these valuable materials:

• Conserves natural resources
• Reduces environmental impacts from mining
• Helps lower production costs for manufacturers

4. Battery recycling saves councils and taxpayers money

Battery recycling helps to minimise waste management costs, which are ultimately funded through Council Tax.

When batteries are incorrectly disposed of:

• Fires can damage waste collection vehicles and sorting equipment
• Valuable recyclable materials may be lost
• Additional processing costs are created

Certain battery chemistries also need removing from waste streams before energy-from-waste processing can safely take place.

Reducing battery contamination helps lower operational costs for councils and taxpayers alike.

5. Recycling helps create new batteries

By recycling waste batteries, recovered secondary raw materials can be used again in future manufacturing.

This helps:

• Reduce reliance on virgin materials
• Support a circular economy
• Lower production costs
• Keep batteries more affordable for consumers

6. Batteries are easy to recycle

Do you know where your nearest battery recycling point is? Does your local council collect batteries at kerbside?

Many organisations and retailers now provide battery collection points, making recycling easier than ever. All you need to do is remember to take your used batteries with you when shopping or visiting public spaces.

You can also:

• Check your local council website for kerbside collections
• Use recycle-more’s Bank Locator to find your nearest drop-off point
• Search using the category “Domestic Batteries”

Small actions make a big difference

Incorrectly disposing of batteries may seem harmless, but the environmental and safety impacts can be significant.

By recycling batteries correctly, we can:

• Reduce fires
• Protect human health and wildlife
• Recover valuable materials
• Lower waste management costs
• Support a more sustainable future

Remember, we’re all responsible. We all have the power to do more.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author, Ellie Mitchell, and do not necessarily reflect the views of recycle-more, Valpak Limited, or any other organisation.