By IW Observer.co.uk
The Isle of Wight Council is inviting residents to make a positive difference to the environment by using its new household battery recycling scheme.
From Monday (May 2), householders can leave their spent household batteries out for collection with their general waste.
All batteries collected by the crews will be sent for sorting and processing. Metals and chemicals will be extracted and used to make new batteries and other products. Batteries should be placed safely and separately on top of your closed black bin or gull-proof sack in a clear sandwich-size bag.
Small batteries of all shapes can be recycled, including old rechargeable household batteries. They must be removed from electrical items before being collected. Large batteries such as laptop/phone/power tool batteries and car batteries should be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, cabinet lead for environment and waste management, said: “In partnership with our waste operator, Amey Waste Treatment, I am pleased to announce our new battery collection service.
“This will make it easier for people to dispose of them responsibly at the kerbside on waste collection day and make even more of a positive difference to our environment.”
Recent incidents show that batteries thrown into ordinary bins, household waste or with other recycling are extremely dangerous. They can get squashed, compacted, punctured, shredded or soaked in liquids. When this happens, they can ignite, resulting in fires.
Natasha Dix, the council’s waste and environment manager, said: “Diverting these metals from landfill and recycling them instead is important to ensure the metals don’t leak out of landfills and pollute our drinking water. ”
More information about household battery disposal can be found at bit.ly/IWO-Batterywaste.
Isle of Wight Observer