This post was written in partnership with Call2Recycle.
There really is a day for everything. For instance, February 18th is National Battery Day!
Unfortunately, Battery Day cake isn’t a thing (yet)…but there’s still something we can do to celebrate. We can keep used batteries out of the garbage by gathering them for recycling and taking them to our local Call2Recycle drop-off location instead. It’s easy and it’s free!
Batteries power so many of the devices we use every single day like phones, laptops, remote controls, and smoke detectors, and we have a responsibility to dispose of them properly. Recycling batteries keeps potentially hazardous materials out of landfills, protects our environment, and helps conserve natural resources. Leading up to National Battery Day on February 18, Call2Recycle is calling on all Canadians to get charged up about keeping old batteries out of the landfill and recycling them instead!
5 Tips for Safe and Easy Battery Recycling
- Safety first! Be sure to safely prep your batteries. There are two options: bag or tape.
- Option A: Bag each battery in its own clear plastic bag before placing it in a storage container.
- Option B: Or, tape the terminals with clear packing, non-conductive electrical or duct tape, keeping label visible.
- Stay cool. Store the batteries in a cool, dry place. Incidents can occur when batteries are exposed to inclement or excessively hot weather. Store them in a plastic container; avoid metal.
- Possible damage? If you see a swollen or bulging battery, immediately put it in a non-flammable material, such as sand or kitty litter in a cool, dry place. DO NOT THROW AWAY. Contact Call2Recycle, the manufacturer, or retailer immediately for instructions, especially if the label says it is Lithium or Lithium-Ion.
- Timing is everything. Aim to drop off batteries to recycle within six months, ensuring they are bagged or taped. You can use the Call2Recycle locator to find the nearest drop-off site.
- Spread the word. As we all use batteries to power our world, share the knowledge about battery recycling. It’s the right thing to do and helps keep batteries out of landfills!
Since 1997, this not-for-profit program has recycled more than 19 million kilograms of batteries, keeping them out of local landfills and recovering the valuable materials inside them that can be used to create new batteries and other products. With 8,000 locations across the country, over 90% of Canadians live within 15 km of a Call2Recycle drop-off location.
Call2Recycle accepts all rechargeable batteries weighing up to 5 kg each, including Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-Ion), Nickel Zinc (Ni-Zn) and Small Sealed Lead Acid (SSLA/Pb), as well as single use alkaline, lithium primary and carbon-zinc batteries.
Head over to Call2Recycle’s National Battery Day page for more information and helpful resources. Connect with Call2Recycle on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation. Nevertheless, all opinions expressed are completely honest and my own. Your experience may differ.
Thank you! I have a drawer full of old batteries and I’ve been procrastinating lol. I see that the best buy by my work takes them which is actually pretty convenient.
I save my batteries and computer ink then drop them off I staples when I go to the mall. They have all those bin for recycling. So convenient.
I take our batteries to Staples to be recycled/
Thank you for this article. I have always just chucked them in the trash!
Bag or tape is a good tip I just learned from this article. We take ours to the nearest local library and dispose of batteries in the bin.
Thanks for sharing this information with everyone. It is important to recycle batteries.
Great informative post! We don’t go through a lot of batteries anymore but this is good to know. there is actually a drop-off location not too far from us too … very convenient!
I wish people realized the harm disposing used batteries in the regular garbage does to the environment and how simple it is to take them to a disposal center.