Household battery recycling

Why shouldn't I put batteries in my household rubbish bins?
How are the batteries recycled?
Where can I drop off my household batteries?
What can I do with other types of batteries?

Household or dry-cell batteries are those batteries that we use in everyday items such as radios, cameras, and children's toys. It is estimated that WA throws away over 18 million household batteries to landfill every year.

When batteries are landfilled, their casings disintegrate and metals and chemicals used within the battery can leach into the surrounding environment.

In order to prevent this happening, EMRC has developed a school battery collection and recycling program and have provided battery recycling bins in all public libraries and prominant shopping centres throughout Perth's Eastern Region.

Dry-Cell Battery Recycling now expanded across Perth

Old household batteries (dry-cell) can be dropped off at any one of over 150 new battery recycling bins around Perth. This community initiative is the first of its kind in Australia and gives everyone the ability to recycle common household batteries at a range of convenient locations.

By separating your batteries from ordinary household rubbish, these valuable resources can be recycled into a range of new products, such as street lights and car parts, rather than go to waste.

The vibrant new battery recycling bins are designed with a slot in the top to allow batteries to be easily and safely deposited.

The types of batteries accepted include:

AA and AAA cells (single use & rechargeable batteries)
C and D sized batteries
Button batteries (e.g. from watches)
9V batteries
6V batteries (e.g. lantern/torch batteries)

The initiative is being administered by Dry Cell Battery Working Group and is supported by the Western Australian Landfill Levy Fund and Household Hazardous Waste Program. For a full list of battery recycling bin locations and to find out more visit www.zerowastewa.com.au or contact your local Council.

Why shouldn't I put batteries in my household rubbish bins?

When dry-cell batteries (alkaline or single-use batteries) are landfilled, their casings disintegrate and metals and chemicals used within the battery can leach into the surrounding environment. EMRC's batter recycling program offers a safe disposal method to capture dry-cell batteries from the household waste stream, ensuring disposal does not damage our sensitive environment.

What else can you do to help - Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

* Check to see if you already have batteries on hand before purchasing more.
* When appropriate, buy hand operated items that function without batteries.
* Look for batteries that have less mercury and other heavy metals.
* Consider using rechargeable batteries (also known as secondary batteries) and battery chargers (only for rechargeable batteries).

For more information contact EMRC's Waste education Officer on (08) 9424 2222.

How are the batteries recycled?

The dry cell batteries collected in our program are being sent to New South Wales to be recycled. AusZinc, a producer of metals and alloys, are piloting this battery recycling program.

Steel, zinc and manganese are recycled from the everyday alkaline battery. The steel goes to Bluescope Steel to make new products such as steel beams to support houses. Zinc is used for galvanizing products such as light posts found on street corners. Manganese is used for making new batteries and steel alloys.

The cost to transport and recycle the batteries is made possible through the State's Household Hazardous Waste Program under the landfill levy. Recycling our household batteries means that we are helping our planet by saving valuable natural resources.

Where can I drop off my household batteries?

The Town of Bassendean, Cities of Bayswater, Belmont and Swan, and the Shires of Kalamunda and Mundaring along with EMRC offer residents the chance to drop off their used household (dry-cell) batteries.

If you have used dry cell batteries you can take them to any of the following drop off points:

Town of Bassendean

Town of Bassendean Administration Building - 48 Old Perth Road, Bassendean
Bassendean Memorial Library - 35 Old Perth Road, Bassendean

City of Bayswater

City of Bayswater Information Centre - Galleria Shopping Centre, Morley (opp Post Office)
Bayswater Public Library - 25 King William Street,Bayswater
Gerry Leeuwangh (Morley) Library - Galleria Shopping Centre, Morley (opp. Woolworths)
Maylands Public Library - Cnr Guildford Road & Eighth Avenue, Maylands

City of Belmont

City of Belmont Administration Office - 215 Wright St, Cloverdale
Ruth Faulkner Public Library - 215 Wright St, Cloverdale
Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council Administration Office - 226 Great Eastern Highway, Belmont
Belmont Forum Shopping Centre (Green Room) - 227 Belmont Avenue, Cloverdale

Shire of Kalamunda

Shire of Kalamunda Administration Office - 2 Railway Road, Kalamunda
Kalamunda Library - 7 Williams Street, Kalamunda
Forrestfield Library - Strelitzia Avenue, Forrestfield
High Wycombe Library - Markham Road, High Wycombe
Centro Kalamunda Shopping Centre - 39 Railway Road, Kalamunda
Forrestfield Forum and Marketplace - 20 Strelitzia Avenue, Forrestfield

Shire of Mundaring

Shire of Mundaring Administration Office -7000 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring
Katharine Susannah Prichard Library (Greenmount Library) - 4 Scott Street, Greenmount
Albert Facey Memorial Library (also known as Mundaring Library) - Nichol Street, Mundaring

City of Swan

City of Swan Administration Office - Midland Square, Midland
Altone Park Public Library - 332 Benara Road, Beechboro
Ballajura Public Library - Corner Kingfisher Avenue & Illawarra Crescent, Ballajurra
Bullsbrook Community Library - Chittering Road, Bullsbrook
Ellenbrook Community Library - 90 Main Street, Ellenbrook
Gidge Hardware Store - 2071 Toodyay Road, Gidgegannup
Guildford Public Library - James Street, Guildford Ballajura
Midland Library - 45 Helena Street, Midland
The Shops at Ellenbrook - cnr the Promenade & Pinaster Rd, Ellenbrook

For a full list of bin locations around Perth, visit www.zerowastewa.com.au.

Note:

Please place any broken, leaking or rusting batteries into a plastic bag before placing them into the battery bin.
Store batteries in a cool, dry, shaded, well-ventilated area.
Car batteries will not be accepted. If you have car batteries for disposal you can drop them off at the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Days.

For more information call EMRC's Waste Education Officer on (08) 9424 2222.

What can I do with other types of batteries?

Rechargeable batteries

Rechargeable batteries (also known as secondary batteries) can also go into the household battery recycling bins. The rechargeables will be separated from the alkaline (also known as single use) batteries, and sent either to France or Singapore for recycling. Australia does not currently have a facility for recycling rechargeable batteries.

Lead acid batteries (e.g. car batteries)

Lead acid batteries (also known as as wet cell batteries) cannot be disposed of in the battery recycling bins.

Take them to Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day for free disposal (note: domestic quantities only - commercial quantities are not permitted).
Try local scrap metal merchants. The Construction & Demolition Recycling Directory has a range of metal scrap merchants in Perth.