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City of Spokane’s Battery Collection Program. Scott K. Windsor City of Spokane Solid Waste Dept. swindsor@spokanecity.org. Background. 1990 City of Spokane begins collection of household batteries in order to divert mercury and other heavy metals from the waste stream. Collection Means.
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City of Spokane’s Battery Collection Program Scott K. Windsor City of Spokane Solid Waste Dept. swindsor@spokanecity.org
Background 1990 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 • Transfer Station Drop off • Commercial collection centers serviced by system personnel • 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 • Ni-Cd • Ni-MH • Li-Ion • Sealed lead acid • Other- button cell, Carbonaire, etc
Management of waste stream • Alkaline batteries • Recycle? • Landfill
Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, Li-Ion • Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) • www.rbrc.org • Will pay both shipping and recycling costs • Successful example of Product stewardship
Sealed Lead Acid • RBRC will accept • Local Auto Battery recycler • Interstate Batteries • Auto batteries, sealed lead acid • Receive funds for auto batteries • 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 500-550 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