Batteries have become part of a huge number of applications in everyday life, so the number that are replaced in homes and businesses has soared over the decades as demand for them in products has grown.
Dead batteries must be disposed of carefully, as they pose a fire risk if they’re put into the bin for collection by the bin men on their rounds. Batteries should be responsibly thrown away, in designated battery bins available for public use.
There are several types of waste that commonly get generated by households that are not suitable for the bin, of which batteries are just one. Another common example is light bulbs, which can contain hazardous substances. You can learn more about safely disposing of light bulbs here.
Why Can’t Batteries Go In The Bin?
Many people believe that flat batteries can be placed in the bin as there is no charge remaining in them.
While they may no longer be useful, they will almost certainly not be totally flat, and retain a small charge, even if that’s not enough to power whatever they were supplying.
With that said, that isn’t the only reason that batteries shouldn’t be placed in the bin.
When waste goes into a bin lorry, it’s crushed by the truck’s mechanism so that the maximum possible amount can be collected on a round. That efficiency means more rubbish is collected in a shorter period of time, so the crews need to return to the depot less frequently to empty the vehicle.
Less trips back to base mean more rubbish can be collected in a crew’s shift, and importantly the lorries need to do less miles overall, saving on fuel costs to the council (in turn keeping council tax bills from going up even more!) and producing less emissions from the dust carts into the environment.
Unfortunately, if batteries are crushed, they’re highly likely to leak chemicals into the other waste in the back of the truck, and at least some of that will almost certainly go to landfill, meaning that toxins will pollute the ground even more than usual.
In addition, there’s a risk of fires starting in the rubbish as batteries are damaged, putting the crew and members of the public at risk, not to mention the environmental damage from an uncontrolled fire.
There have been many cases of fires starting from incorrectly discarded batteries, some of which have occurred in bin lorries on major roads, causing huge disruption. In extreme cases, bin lorries have had to be emptied onto the carriageway of roads in order to be extinguished. It’s not hard to see how hazardous that could be, and significant expenses incurred for the fire service to be required to attend and even roads needing resurfacing.
Where Can I Dispose Of Used Batteries?
The two most common places that accept spent batteries are your local tip and supermarket.
HWRCs
Local tips usually have a bin located on site where you can throw dead batteries, meaning that they can be processed carefully, including recycling chemicals and the metal casing.
Supermarkets
Recycling is also possible at the main supermarkets, with all of the big names offering recycling bins in their larger stores. In fact, most large supermarkets have good recycling facilities for a range of materials, which we’ve covered in more detail on this page about supermarket recycling centres.
Smaller, convenience style locations are more of a lottery – some do have recycling bins, but as space is at a premium, they’re not as widespread as in full sized stores.
Libraries
As far fewer of us visit libraries these days compared to decades gone by, it might surprise you to know that they aren’t only about books. Many libraries offer additional community services too, a common one of which is the provision of battery recycling points.
Local Authority Buildings
Like libraries, councils often provide additional locations to drop off recycling like batteries in their public facing buildings. A good example here is town halls, where many members of the public come and go. Check your local council website or give them a call before you go as it’s far from universal coverage across the country, but could be an easy option if you live near a council owned building.
Large Electrical Retailers
Many of the larger retail chains offering electricals in their stores now offer recycling points. They have a duty to make it easy to recycle, and are now embracing their role in minimising harmful waste from the products the sell, often allowing old products to be recycled via the facilities in their stores, regardless of whether the items were originally bought from the company.
Schools, Good Causes And Small Businesses With Community Initiatives
We’ve talked elsewhere on the site about schemes like Terracycle that aim to make recycling more accessible, especially for materials like batteries that aren’t always accepted in council collections.
These initiatives have helped locations like schools, charities and other good causes to place bins in their reception areas to provide recycling services in their communities.
What’s more, increasing numbers of small businesses are now recognising that encouraging people to visit them can help them spread the word about their products and services, while at the same time helping their brand get associated with doing their bit for the environment and helping local people recycle too.
Where Can I Dispose Of Old Car Batteries?
Many of the council run tips across the UK will accept old car batteries, but for most of us, that’s not something we’ll ever need to worry about. In the same way as car tyres, most people get their car battery replaced by a professional service, whether that’s a mobile fitting service at the roadside or by taking their vehicle to a garage for a mechanic to complete the job.
While tips do often accept tyres and batteries, possibly for a fee, by getting the replacement done professionally you’ll be paying for disposal of the waste as part of the price.
Are Batteries Recycled?
When you correctly dispose of batteries in designated bins, they are recycled carefully. Metals including zinc, lithium, lead, mercury and cadmium are recovered and reused, helping to go some way towards neutralizing the environmental impact compared to them ending up in landfill.
Do Laws Require Batteries To Be Recycled?
In the UK, the ‘Waste Batteries And Accumulators Regulations 2015’ update their 2009 version to cover the requirements for the end of life of batteries.
Broadly speaking, they cover the need to remove batteries from products and regulate against what can end up in landfill. The idea is to ensure as little pollution of land as possible results from battery disposal, while at the same time promoting recycling in order to reclaim and reuse valuable materials.
