Why do I need to recycle my batteries?
With only 3 to 5 percent of batteries being recycled in the UK, we throw away an astounding 620 million batteries each year. On top of helping to fill up our already overwhelmed landfill sites, these discarded household batteries can cause serious damage to the environment, as well as your health.
Many batteries contain dangerous chemicals, including cadmium and lead By throwing your batteries in bin at home, they will end up in your local landfill site where the batteries break down, eventually leaking these hazardous substances into the earth.
When you recycle your batteries properly and as well as helping to prevent highly toxic pollution of the earth your efforts will help companies reclaim battery materials like silver and nickel, cutting emissions that would be produced in mining for new materials.
Recycling batteries in your area
Many local councils already collect batteries in their doorstep recycling collections. You should also be able to find special battery bins at your local recycling centers.
From 2008, every shop that sells batteries have to have battery recycling bins in store. As a result, the majority of supermarket chains now have a box for battery collection by their checkouts. If there is not a battery recycling box in your local retailer, you should alert the Vehicle Certification Agency.
What can I recycle?
The vast majority of battery types alongside regular household batteries can be recycled. From hearing aid batteries to car batteries, they can all now be recycled.
What else can I do to help?
Make the change to rechargeable batteries like NiMH. NiMH is the latest development in rechargeable batteries and they have a shelf life comparable with a standard alkaline battery. They can be recharged thousands of times over, reducing battery waste.
If your local council or retailers are falling short in their battery recycling pledge make a complaint and urge them to improve.
When getting your batteries to your local recycling center, never post them as this is dangerous and illegal too.