Recycle Your Batteries Now

Commencing in September, 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.

It is estimated over 18 million household batteries are thrown away in Western Australia each year. 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 the Mindarie Regional Council with the support of the other four metropolitan regional councils 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 the Mindarie Regional Council on (08) 9306 6303.
 
Additional Information

Program - Background

• The Southern Metropolitan Regional Council in conjunction with the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council received a Strategic Waste Initiative Scheme grant for $80, 000 to implement a metropolitan wide dry-cell battery collection and recycling program.
• This initiative is being rolled out by all five metropolitan regional councils i.e. Southern, Eastern, Western, Mindarie and Rivers Regional Councils.

Battery Facts

• Batteries are the most common form of hazardous waste disposed of by Australian households, with 97% ending up among usual rubbish collection in landfill
• When batteries are landfilled, their casings disintegrate, and metals and chemicals used within the battery can leach into the surrounding environment. Preventing the batteries from going directly into landfill by participating in the battery recycling program, will remove this risk.

• Australia only has one battery recycling facility (Auszinc) in Wollongong, New South Wales. This facility will recycle all metals and components of alkaline batteries.
• The batteries collected in this program will first be sorted. The components and metals are then separated, melted and recycled into new products such as street lights, new batteries, car parts and steel frames for houses.
• Batteries which cannot be recycled in Australia will be exported to existing European battery recycling facilities.

What batteries are not accepted?

• Automotive & sealed lead-based (Pb) – These can be taken to your next Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop off day. Visit www.wastenet.net.au/events for more information.
• Mobile Phones & Accessories – These can be taken back to mobile phone retail outlets. Visit www.mobilemuster.com.au for your nearest drop off point.

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).