A few years ago, Environment Canada released a startling report on the recycling rates for batteries in this country. The report was surprising because the rates for battery recycling were so low. Each year, literally hundreds of thousands of batteries, and their harmful components, were being sent to the landfill, rather than being properly disposed of and recycled.
In an update to the report, Environment Canada stated that only 5% of primary consumer batteries in Ontario were being recycled. This number apparently could be much worse, but the saving grace was municipalities (Peterborough included) include batteries as part of their household hazardous waste collection programs.
Powering everything from the TV remote to children’s toys to smoke detectors, batteries are likely one of the most common household items — we all use them. The downside to batteries is that they eventually run out of juice, and once they’re dead, what do we do with them?
We in Ontario are devoted recyclers but, according to 2012 research findings from Stewardship Ontario, proper disposal of batteries isn’t top of mind for many households in our province.
More than a third of Ontarians (35%) say they typically dispose of batteries by throwing them in the garbage or including them in their blue box, where batteries aren’t accepted. And even those who normally do the right thing occasionally toss out a battery. One in three (33%) admit they’ve thrown out a battery in the garbage in the past year.
Also included in that research done for Stewardship Ontario were some interesting facts about knowledge of battery disposal.
Nearly half (47%) of those who throw batteries in the household trash say they do not know where to bring them, while four in ten (39%) were unaware batteries should not be thrown out. Interestingly, two in ten (23%) say they don’t use enough batteries for proper disposal to matter.
Of those who throw their batteries into the regular trash, nearly all (95%) said they would be somewhat likely to change their ways if it was easier for them to recycle.
Here in the Peterborough area, disposing of batteries has never been easier. GreenUP will happily take your old household batteries at our 378 Aylmer Street location and ensure they are kept from landfills and properly recycled.
GreenUP collects single-use AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt batteries in addition to button-type batteries, such as the those found in hearing aids.
Once the batteries are collected, they are shipped off to a company called Raw Materials Company (RMC) in Port Colborne where they are recycled. There are recoverable resources inside of each battery regardless of its type, including steel.
Take a single-use alkaline battery, for example. On average, 25% of the battery is made up of steel, which can be recycled infinitely. RMC’s mechanical process is able to recover 100% of the steel in each battery for reuse.
Recycling goes beyond just extracting the steel: 60% of the battery is made up of a combination of materials like zinc, manganese and potassium. These materials are all earth elements and can be recovered and reused as a micronutrient in the production of fertilizer to grow corn.
The remaining 15% by weight is made up of paper and plastic. These materials are sent to an energy-from-waste facility to create electricity.
As you can see, recycling batteries is a far better method than simply tossing them in the trash.
Another reason to recycle batteries is that fact that some contain materials that are harmful to the environment. Keeping these materials out of our landfills and ensuring they’re properly disposed of is very important.
There’s no better time to gather up your batteries and bring them for recycling. If you can’t get to GreenUP or live outside the city, visit RMC’s website at rawmaterials.com and type in your postal code to find a collection location near you. There are alternative drop-off locations scattered across the city and county.
If your battery collection is still quite small and you want to gather a few more before recycling them, you’re in luck.
The City of Peterborough will be holding a special battery collection during the week of March 9th. Collection bags will be distributed to homeowners via Peterborough This Week on March 6th. You are asked to place your bag of batteries on top of your recycling materials in your blue box during the special pick-up days. Contact the City at 705-742-7777 Ext. 1891 for more details.
