However, like all other mass-produced goods, it is all too easy to forget about where they will end up once the garbage truck hauls them away. In fact, the NSW government reports that Australians use 10,000 tons of domestic batteries every year; 70% are single-use, and most go to a landfill. So why is this problematic?
Do batteries upset the balance of nature?
You may take these ever-present, useful little things for granted, but the very things that make batteries useful also make them dangerous to the environment. They contain various chemicals and metals that are known environmental hazards, such as cadmium, mercury, zinc and nickel. Cadmium is particularly worrying – it is extremely toxic even in low concentrations – as it easily becomes part of the food chain, by being absorbed by plants when the soil is polluted.
Even the tiniest batteries contain hazardous waste; button-cell batteries such as those used in hearing aids and watches, contain silver and mercury, which can also be recycled. And on a larger scale the lead from lead-acid batteries, mainly used in cars, pollutes by seeping into soil and water. In fact, lead is so toxic that long-term exposure is known to cause damage to your brain, kidneys and hearing. It also hinders learning abilities in children.
Know your batteries!
There are two kinds of dry-cell battery commonly used in households – each kind requiring different recycling methods:
Primary batteries are the cheaper and usually more popular choice – they cannot be recharged, are usually alkaline and contain zinc.
Secondary batteries are commonly known as rechargeable – they are more expensive but they last much longer. Examples are batteries used to power digital cameras, mobile phones, children’s toys, computers, shavers and video cameras. These batteries usually contain lead, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride and lithium ions
Can batteries be recycled?
In the same way we take for granted the disposability of batteries, we also take for granted the process by which they are recycled. Non-rechargeable batteries can be recycled in New South Wales where zinc and manganese dioxide are recovered. Silver, iron and mercury are also recoverable. An better and easy way to do your part and save money in the process is to make the right choice as a consumer. You can make the switch to rechargeable batteries, which can be used up to 1000 times.
Recycling batteries that do not contain lead involves exposing them to a high temperature metal recovery process. During this process the batteries are drained, taken apart, and placed on a furnace. Non-metals such as paper, plastic and gel are vaporized, leaving behind the dangerous metals like nickel and cadmium. Lead-acid (also known as wet-cell) batteries require the separation of plastics, lead and acid before processing, and high temperature metal recovery in a specialised kind of furnace.
Too many going to landfill
Although Australians have always been proud of their recycling efforts, and research even supported the idea that Australians were extremely good at recycling several years ago, new information indicates that Australians are at risk of becoming ignorant.
Statistics show that the Australian Capital Territory recycled the most between 2002 and 2003; where 69% of the total waste was recycled. South Australia followed closely behind with 63%. Victoria produced 8.6 million tons of waste and managed to recycle 51% of it, while those in New South Wales generated 12 million tons of solid waste and almost half of it was recycled.
However, before you give yourselves a pat on the back, keep in mind the Australian Board of Statistics reports that public concern about environmental issues reduced by 5.1% between 2001 and 2004. The Northern Territory had the lowest level of concern in 2004 (46%), while those in ACT had the highest level of concern (69%). Followed by SA and WA (63%). It is no surprise, then, when in 2010 the City of Sydney’s ‘Zero-Waste’ campaign reports that the average Sydney household sends nearly half a ton of garbage (general waste) to landfill each year, yet nearly 70% of it could have been recovered and recycled.
Battery Recycling Programs near you
It’s time to take action! There are several battery recycling programs to choose from – so where can you go to recycle your batteries?
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SITA Environmental Solutions
This Victoria-based company has branches in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia and its Battery Recycling Program is now available across Australia – though it is more of an office or business collection program.To access the program, call SITA on 131 335 and a battery recycling box will be mailed to you. Once you have filled it, call them once more to collect it and give leave a replacement box. The box full of batteries is shipped to their partner’s e-waste battery recycling facilities where the batteries are sorted into their relevant technologies.
According to their website, rechargeable batteries are recycled in Australia, while single-use batteries are shipped overseas to recycling centres approved by Environment Australia. In rechargeable batteries, the nickel-cadmium, nickel metal hydride and lithium ions are extracted and recycled. The precious metals in single-use batteries such as silver, iron and mercury are also recovered. A small charge is applied to cover collection and recycling costs.
www.sita.com.au/our-services/collection-services/battery-recycling
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Transpacific
Contact Transpacific by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to arrange a pre-paid recycling box (20cm x 20cm x 12cm) to be posted to your business. Pricing includes delivery, return postage of the full box and recycling of the batteries.Simply deposit the batteries into the box and, once full, tape the opening shut and follow the return instructions on the side of the box.
www.transpacific.com.au/tpi/battery_recycling_program
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Batteryback
This program is run by the government of Victoria, with battery bin drops placed at certain Coles, Michaels Camera & Video, Officeworks, Bunnings, and aToMiK Green stores around Victoria – check their website for the list of stores participating. This program is aimed at individuals and businesses are directed to use SITA or Transpacific services (see above).Victorians will be happy to know this service is free of charge, but will cease on 30 June 2011.
www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_households/waste_and_recycling
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Household Chemical CleanOut Program
This NSW government funded initiative aims to dispose of all hazardous household chemicals. Drop-off centres accept up to 20 kilograms or 20 litres of household quantities. Not only do they recycle household and car batteries, but they also accept solvents, cleaners, fluorescent globes, paint-related products, pesticides, herbicides, poisons, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, pool chemicals, acids and alkalis, and motor fuels and fluids. This is all done without charge to NSW residents.Business-related and commercial quantities are not accepted at CleanOut centres - telephone the Environment Line on 131 555 to find out correct disposal for businesses.
CleanOut drop-off centres operate at various locations at specified dates throughout the year. Have a look at the online events calendar to locate a collection that is convenient to you.
For further information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or check out the website: www.cleanout.com.au
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EMRC Battery Recycling Program
It is estimated that WA throws away over 18 million household batteries to landfill every year. Perth’s Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) has two battery recycling programs, one for households and one for schools. Old household batteries (dry-cell) can be dropped off at any one of over 150 new battery recycling bins around Perth.For details check out their website: www.emrc.org.au/battery-recycling-programs.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s take more care of our planet by recycling all batteries today!
To connect with companies that can help with recycling, see the Recycling & Waste section of our Business Directory.
Written by Christabelle Tani
Editing and additional research by Suze Chalmers
Image credit: Chuck "Caveman" Coker via Flickr Creative Commons
