Battery Bucket Program
The small battery recycling program is designed so batteries that would otherwise be disposed of into the trash are collected for recycling. In fact, all of the battery types listed below are recycled into new materials.
Some of the metals are used to make new batteries. This is a true recycling program. Most household batteries accepted by hazardous waste companies are landfilled. All batteries accepted under this program are shipped for recycling.
The program includes either a leak proof five and one-half gallon container with a hole in the top or a fourteen gallon container with a plastic cover and whole in the top. The container is labeled indicating that it is for small batteries or cell phones only. The container should be placed in a high traffic area where the effort to dispose of the batteries is minimal. The five gallon bucket bucket can hold between 60 and 90# of batteries while the fourteen gallon container can hold about three times more.
The primary reason why more small batteries are not disposed of properly is lack of opportunity and a second reason is lack of convenience. This program addresses both of these issues and contributes to Stormwater Compliance.
Participants can dispose of the following batteries into this container:
- NiCad - rechargeable
- Alkaline/Zinc-Carbon - one time use
- Lithium - primary one time use
- Nickel Zinc - one time use
- Silver Oxide - one time use (hearing aid, etc.)
- Nickel Metal Hydride - rechargeable (used in cell phones)
- Lithium Ion - rechargeable (used in computers, cell phones)
- Mercury batteries - one time use (hearing aid, watches)
When the container is full, the sponsoring agency or business will contact Curbside for collection. A replacement container will be left in the same location.
This is not a pre-paid program, the cost of disposal is based either on a fixed price per five gallon container or a stop charge and price per gallon for the fourteen gallon container (and some five gallon containers). You pay after the batteries are collected.
Batteries are placed in our vehicle and packed with material to reduce the possibilty of shorts during transportation to our facilty. Our employees sort and tape all rechargable and lithium primary batteries, discharge button batteries and pack alkaline batteries with insulating material. Processed batteries are shipped for recycling to one of three recycling facilities in the U.S. and Canada.
Some states consider batteries to be hazardous unless they are recycled. Our collection document indicates that they will be recycled.
Lead acid batteries are excluded from the bucket program but can be collected as part of other programs or as a separate item.