YOU CAN GIVE YOUR BATTERIES A BETTER AFTER-LIFE! Think about all the places you use batteries. They’re in phones, toys, remote controls, hearing aids, smoke detectors, power tools, alarms, even singing birthday cards. There are probably more than you realise. You rely on them so much that you don’t give them a second thought - until they go flat. You might not know that tossing flat batteries into your normal rubbish collection can cause a fire in your home or bin, the rubbish truck, and even in landfill. Once in landfill, battery chemicals can leach out into soil and waterways, polluting the environment and impacting on people and wildlife.
HOW TO SAFEGUARD YOUR HOME AND FAMILY Given how common batteries are, it’s good to know that they are quite safe if treated with respect. These safety tips can help give you peace of mind:
RECYCLING – IT’S A TEAM EFFORT You can’t toss used batteries in the bin and you don’t want a stockpile at home, so what’s the solution? Recycle your batteries!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
1.
Always keep new and used batteries safely stored out of reach of children.
1.
Cover the terminals of all used batteries with sticky tape. If the battery is damaged, seal it in a zip-lock plastic bag.
2.
Never charge your phone or device on the bed. Remind your teenagers of this!
2.
Place all taped batteries into a suitable sealed container out of reach of children.
3.
Take your used batteries to a drop-off location, such as Battery World. Our Team Members will help you check the batteries and prepare them for recycling.
3.
Keep an eye on batteries being charged. Disconnect the charger overnight and when out of the house.
4.
If a battery is hot, don’t use or charge it. Wait until it has cooled completely before trying again.
5.
If a battery is swollen or misshapen, or is making any noise, it’s giving you a warning. Wrap it in a fire blanket to starve it of oxygen.
6.
Treat batteries with care. They can be damaged if dropped or impacted.
7.
Never try to repair or modify a battery.
8.
Some batteries are sealed inside a device or battery box. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, as trying to remove these can be dangerous as it’s easy to damage them.
HOW
CAN HELP
We’re interested in the entire lifecycle of the battery, from ensuring we work with reputable manufacturers and sell quality products right through to collecting used batteries for recycling. We’re proud to be part of B-cycle and encourage you to be part of it, too. B-cycle is an initiative that aims to increase recycling, reduce landfill, minimise environmental impact, and recycle and reuse precious materials to protect Earth’s finite resources. Battery World has partnered with Envirostream, the only accredited and EPA licenced battery recycling facility in Australia. By processing locally, we minimise transport emissions and prevent landfill problems in other countries.
With 95% of a battery’s components useful for future products, recycling helps us all make better use of the earth’s resources. Together, we can make recycling safe and give our used batteries the after-life they deserve. And the best part? We’re all contributing to a healthier, greener future.