City of Spokane’s Battery Collection Program Scott K. Windsor City of Spokane Solid Waste Dept.

Background 1990 City of Spokane begins collection of household batteries in order to divert mercury and other heavy metals from the waste stream. City of Spokane begins collection of household batteries in order to divert mercury and other heavy metals from the waste stream.

Collection Means Curbside Pickup Curbside Pickup Transfer Station Drop off Transfer Station Drop off Commercial collection centers serviced by system personnel Commercial collection centers serviced by system personnel First year 21 tons collected First year 21 tons collected

Curbside collection Place batteries in plastic bags and put into your recycling bin Will pick up auto batteries as well as other household batteries

Transfer Stations Accept batteries from both household and SQG sources as long as batteries our household in nature Batteries placed in recycling bin for transportation to battery sorting area

Commercial sources Accept household batteries from local businesses that accept them from their customers. We pick up and transport No fee

2004 Over 88 tons of household batteries were collected in addition to over 90 tons of auto batteries 400% growth in the last 14 years.

Types of household batteries Alkaline Alkaline Ni-Cd Ni-Cd Ni-MH Ni-MH Li-Ion Li-Ion Sealed lead acid Sealed lead acid Other- button cell, Carbonaire, etc Other- button cell, Carbonaire, etc

Management of waste stream Alkaline batteries Recycle? Landfill

Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) Will pay both shipping and recycling costs Will pay both shipping and recycling costs Successful example of Product stewardship Successful example of Product stewardship

Sealed Lead Acid RBRC will accept RBRC will accept Local Auto Battery recycler Local Auto Battery recycler Interstate Batteries Interstate Batteries Auto batteries, sealed lead acid Auto batteries, sealed lead acid Receive funds for auto batteries Receive funds for auto batteries Sulfuric acid recycling as well Sulfuric acid recycling as well

Mercury containing batteries Button cell Long life Smoke detectors Other long life applications Sent out for retorting

Batteries you don’t want Liquid Ni-Cd Carbon-aire Tend to be Military or Health care related Household Storage devices Hazardous waste disposal

Packing New or reconditioned drums Fiber drums Cardboard boxes Drums good for about lbs. ¾ full

Cardboard box One cubic yard box Pricing is about 1 ½ times a reconditioned drum Holds equivalent of 4 drums worth of batteries Has inner liner

Packing No matter the final container for disposal, about 1/3 to ¼ final volume needs to be taken up with packing material

Sorting and segregating Local low security prison provides work crew to sort batteries Place batteries into disposal container Also provide litter control for system

Summary The Energizer bunny isn’t laughing at you sorting batteries, he’s laughing with you An effective battery collection program can be run on a low budget thanks to options that are now available