Changing Battery Recycling
You may already be aware of the heavy metals inside batteries, but an entirely different concern is present when shipping them for recycling. If not properly bagged or taped, they can short circuit and even cause a fire.
As a result, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently been cracking down on how they’re transported. This includes collection points, battery recyclers and anyone involved in sending used batteries from Point A to Point B.
All batteries can be categorized as either primary (single-use) batteries or secondary (rechargeable) batteries. Each type requires specific instructions to ensure it is properly discarded or recycled. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com
The Lowdown
The DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has several issues with the way batteries are currently being recycled:
- Batteries are often collected in large containers without separating them by type, and the containers do not do enough to prevent them from mixing together during shipping.
- The outer packaging does not identify that batteries are inside.
- Mixing batteries can lead to fires. Multiple incidents have occurred where trucks containing used batteries for recycling were completely destroyed.
As a result, the DOT issued a letter earlier this year requiring all batteries to be individually bagged prior to shipping starting Jan. 10, 2010, including alkaline and rechargeable batteries.
Leading the Charge
For many battery recyclers, safety is already the name of the game. For example, Big Green Box offers a mail-in program to ship a variety of battery types for recycling. Each shipping box includes 100 plastic bags for consumers to individually wrap batteries.
“For us, there’s no extra hassle in recycling when batteries are individually bagged before they are shipped to us,” says Daniel Kinsbursky of Big Green Box. He adds that the company separates batteries by chemistry (Lead, NiCd, NiMH, Lithium, Alkaline) at a regional consolidation point and forwards the batteries to a recycling facility specializing in the extraction of that material.
“We would still need to insulate batteries to ship them from the consolidation point to each recycling facility,” he says. “This task becomes unnecessary if our customers have already bagged each battery.”
Battery recyclers are also being cautious about providing the appropriate materials to their customers. “We encourage program participants to replenish supplies as often as needed, and they are provided free of charge,” says Cheryl Lofrano-Zaske, CHMM, manager of Safety & Compliance for Call2Recycle®.
Call2Recycle collects many of its rechargeable batteries from retail stores that also sell batteries. Every participant receives a self-sealing collection box, affixed prepaid shipping label, safety and shipping instructions and plastic bags, says Lofrano-Zaske.
Each year, Americans throw out almost 180,000 tons of batteries. About 14,000 of those tons are rechargeable batteries - the rest are single-use. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com
Alka-fine?
If so many recyclers were already in compliance with shipping rules, what’s the significance of the new ruling? One of the main questions is whether it’s safe to ship alkaline batteries without individually wrapping them.
“We are working exceptionally hard to educate our customers about which batteries need to be insulated, but a lot of confusion still exists in regards to alkalines,” says Kinsbusky. “These batteries also encompass a large proportion of what is returned in our program.”
To that end, the company has addressed the issue of alkaline safety to the DOT. It developed a “worst case scenario” test by lining up 12 new alkaline batteries end-to-end and attaching a copper wire to create a circuit, then periodically measured the temperature generated for 80 minutes. The temperature never reached a dangerous point, and when the batteries were replaced with spent alkalines there was very little increase in temperature at all.
As a result, the Office of Hazardous Materials Standards determined that 1.5-volt alkaline batteries do not pose an unreasonable risk when transferred and do not require special packaging. Further testing gained the same distinction for 9-volt alkaline batteries and 6-volt carbon zinc batteries.
Thinking Ahead
“Call2Recycle takes every precaution to ensure compliance with the U.S. DOT regulations, and we strongly concur with the need to ensure safe storage and shipping of materials,” says Lofrano-Zaske. “Our ultimate mission is to protect the environment, and complying with safety regulations is an integral part of fulfilling that charge.”
Nine states have banned Nickel-cadmium batteries from landfills, which means it’s possible that recycling rechargeable batteries is the law in your area. When you’re ready to recycle, take the extra step to make sure your batteries are properly prepared for shipping.
- U.S. Department of Transportation(04/03/2009). "To: All battery recyclers and battery collection points and related associations." http://www.prba.org/File.aspx?Path=\\Public\\DOT%20Advisory%20Ltr%20on%20Shipping%20Spent%20Batteries%20-%20April%202009.pdf. Letter.
- Kinsbursky Brothers, Inc.(04/16/2009). "RE: 49 CFR § 172.102 Special Provision 130, §173.21" http://www.toxco.com/AlkalineExemptionRequest.pdf. Letter.
- Kinsbursky, Daniel. Big Green Box(09/15/2009). Phone Interview.
- Lofrano-Zaske, Cheryl CHMM. Call2Recycle(09/16/2009). Email Interview.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments.
The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Chris Shea
posted on September 21st, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Dear Trey:
Bravo! You have disseminated good, accurate information. I am one of many BatteriesPlus franchisees around the country and we recycle all rechargeable batteries (lead acid, NiCD, NiMH, li-ion) every day of the week for free for homeowners or businesses. We sort them, bag them or tape them, box them, weigh them and ship them off for recycling. Clean out your garages or basements of batteries and bring them down to BatteriesPlus.
Regards, Chris Shea, BatteriesPlus Woburn MA (781) 933-9093
Laura Bankey
posted on September 24th, 2009 at 8:35 am
The National Aquarium has been trying to keep batteries out of our landfills for years. Our current recycling franchise asks us to individually bag OR tape the positive termianl of each bettery being sent back (dry cells). We’ve chosen to use tape to minimize periphery waste associated with the process. I really don’t want to have to use thousands of bags every year. Any insights?
Lori Brown
posted on September 24th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I love the creative battery recycling logo photograph Amanda. Great job!
canon charger
posted on May 24th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
That is good idea, so we must pay attention on it,You have disseminated good, accurate information. I am one of many BatteriesPlus franchisees around the country and we recycle all rechargeable batteries (lead acid, NiCD, NiMH, li-ion) every day of the week for free for homeowners or businesses. We sort them, bag them or tape them, box them, weigh them and ship them off for recycling.