Recycling Batteries and Ink Cartridges

RECYCLING BATTERIES
In Australia we do not actually manufacture any batteries, even though the average person uses 18 batteries per year. These are imported from overseas! In 2004 Australia imported 267 single use batteries and 50 million rechargeable (Australian Bureau of Statistics) - not inclusive of cordless power tools or portable electronics.

Oddly we do export the raw material to other countries to make these batteries.

Batteries are made up of a variety of chemicals, when connected to an electrical circuit this initiates a chemical reaction which creates an electrical current. Over time these batteries may leak into land fills and will pollute the environment and potentially our waterways. 94% of dead batteries end up in land fill.

There are two major types of batteries.

1. Singles Use Batteries

Alkaine (zinc, manganese dioxide)
Used in torches, toys, remote controls and appliances. Recycling alkaline batteries are too expensive to be a reality at the moment but generally are not considered hazardous; despite their potential to corrode and contaminate the environment.

Lithium, Heavy Duty (Zinc carbon), Silver-oxide (zinc, silver oxide)
Used in cameras, torches, radios, watches, toys and remotes. Considered a non-hazardous battery and is safe for disposal into the general waste bin. They can be recycled but it is too expensive at the moment to be a reality.

2. Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable batteries use more complicated chemicals as they require the reaction to work backwards as well.

Li-on (lithium)
Used in laptop batteries, PCs, digital cameras and cordless drills. These batteries are not considered hazardous and not an environmental risk. They do contain recyclable materials which are accepted by some companies such as MRI. However make sure these batteries are fully run down as they contain materials that are flammable.

Lead Acid and Sealed Lead Battery
Used in car batteries. These re the most recyclable batteries in Australia with 95% of the battery being recoverable. It can be re-used in the remanufacturing of other batteries and plastic molding.

NiCD (Nickel Cadmium)
Used in cordless phones, cameras and shavers. Cadmium is a hazardous material, as it is a known carcinogen. Which can affect soil decomposition, and if inhaled may lead to problems with kidneys and lungs. So disposing of these batteries safely is very important.

Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride)
Used in mobile phones, cameras and other rechargeable appliances. The chemicals in this battery can be recycled but large amounts of nickel are considered hazardous.

HOW TO RECYCLE

Australia lacks a battery recycling program, as it is quite costly to recycle them locally and there are too little valuable materials to be extracted from them. A few types of batteries can be recycled in Australia; those that can't be recycled locally are exported overseas. We fall behind other countries such as Germany and Singapore that have efficient battery recycling plants.

Disposable batteries are considered to be non-hazardous and can be put into the trash. These are still likely to corrode and leak into landfills but are not considered to be a great risk. Most other batteries (rechargeable) are not suitable for the trash and should be accepted back by the manufacturer or retail operators. Otherwise you can make use of various recycling batteries programs.

Regulations about battery disposal differ in each state, so check your with council to see what options are available.

In most states, except WA, disposable batteries can be thrown in the bin.

In WA, both types of batteries are classed as hazardous waste. They are encased in steel drums planted in concrete in safe land fills so that no leakage or corrosion will occur.

POINTER: Using rechargeable batteries are a less costly to the environment; they can be used up to 1,000 times and are a cheaper alternative to single-use batteries. BUT don't forget to recycle these when they finish!

In any case try collecting your batteries, keep them separate from your normal waste and drop them off at your nearest recycling centre.

WHERE TO RECYCLE

In VIC, Batteryback is a free program that collects rechargeable batteries from certain drop-off points in Victoria, you can find these online or call 1800 353 233.

In NSW, CleanOut, are drop off centres that operate in various locations and times in NSW. It is a free service that encourages the safe disposal of common household items inclusive of disposable and rechargeable batteries. Contact your local council to find out the dates or phone the environmental line 133 555.

DID YOU KNOW? For $55.00 (incl. GST) you can recycle all your batteries. MRI will send you a box to deposit all old batteries into, which is then returned free in the post and recycled by them. The batteries are sorted into their different waste disposal strategies. Alkaline batteries are sent to specialist recycler who takes out ferrous and non-ferrous materials. Rechargeable batteries go overseas so that the cadmium can be recovered and re used. Call (07) 3367 7800 or visit www.cleanaway.com.au.

Battery World will accept both disposable and reusable batteries to be recycled but check with your local store. At the moment they are promoting battery recycling with a miniature wheelie bin giveaway. Visit www.batteryworld.com.au to find your local store.

Car batteries can be returned to their place of purchase or you can ask your local council where to recycle them.

Mobiles phone industry has a Mobile Phone Industry Recycling Program (MPIRP). Old or broken phones, accessories and batteries are collected and recycled. From 1996 to 2006, 402 tones of mobile phones, handsets and accessories were collected and recycled.

Most phone retailers will have drop-off containers, giant green muster bins, so customers can discard their phones easily. You can find your nearest mobile phone recycling location online at www.mobilemunster.com.au or print out their mailing label and post your old phone to them for free.

RECYCLING INK CARTRIDGES

Ink cartridges are made up of a variety of plastics, inks, metals, foam and rubbers. When they end up in the landfill there is a real risk of them contaminating and potentially harming the environment and humans.
You can recycle cartridges from printers, faxes or photocopiers, of all brand and types. There are over 2000 types of ink cartridges in Australia and they are all recyclable! To think 18 million printer consumables are used by Australians each year and of that 34 printer cartridges are sent to land fill every minute, where it will take years from them to break down.

Instead ink cartridges can easily be recycled and used in creating new toners, aluminium, steel, ink jets and even other printers.

HOW TO RECYCLE

PlanetArk has a nationwide campaign to reduce the number of cartridges that end up in landfill, in which a lot of good Australian companies are participating in like Australian Post.

Simply collect your cartridges and visit your local Australian Post, local council (or any other participating store) and drop off your printer cartridges for free.

To find out about recycling programs near you visit www.recyclingnearyou.com.au.

If you generate a large amount of used ink cartridges, then you can get a free recycling box sent to your place. When it is full you can call for it to be picked up for free and sent to a recycling plant. You can also elect to receive a Resource Recover Certificate which outlines the waste you diverted from landfill. Visit www.planetark.com/cartridges for more information.

DID YOU KNOW? Another way to save money and the planet is by REFILLING ink cartridges.

Refilling cartridges does depend on the type of cartridge and the condition it is in. Normally a cartridge can be refilled 4-6 times and you can expect to pay 50 - 60% off the retail price of a new cartridge. Some places will even be able to do it within 24 hours.

POINTER: You can extend the life of your cartridge by not letting the ink run out completely. When the cartridge is run completely dry then its ability for refilling becomes limited.

Links to check out for more information

- MRI Australia - Computer and Ewaste recycling
- Australian Post - Ink Cartridge Recycling
- Recycling Programs Near You
- Battery World - Battery Recycling
- Planet Ark - Ink Cartridge Recycling
- Clean Away - Battery Recycling
- Mobile Phone Recycling

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