Here at AA Adonis Rubbish Removals, we care about the environment.

One of the most crucially important items to dispose of properly, yet one that is so often disposed of incorrectly, is the humble battery. Every household uses batteries, for everything from music players to children’s toys, watches to smoke alarms, cameras to phones, and torches to cars.

So many people discard batteries in the household rubbish bin; this is entirely the wrong way to dispose of any kind of battery and is actually extremely environmentally harmful. Whether rechargeable or not, batteries are highly hazardous waste and should never be placed into a garbage bin.

Batteries are made of heavy metals and other toxic substances, including cadmium, nickel, mercury, and lead acid. If discarded into landfill, these harmful elements leak from the battery casings into the environment, posing serious risks to the health and wellbeing of flora, fauna, and humans.

Batteries are the most common form of household waste which is hazardous – and we all have a part to play:

• 97% of batteries used in Australia end up in landfill
• Electronic waste is dramatically growing – at a rate of three times that of general household waste
• Batteries from Australia are currently sent overseas for recycling and processing
• Producing new batteries from non-recycled materials requires mining, burning fossil fuels, and contributing enormously to pollution.
• One battery placed into household recycling can contaminate the other contents of a recycling bin.

How should you dispose of batteries safely?

• ALDI supermarkets have a free battery recycling service in every Australian store
• Some workplaces have battery recycling services for battery waste
• Cleanaway runs a battery collection service
• Most councils offer a battery collection point for drop off, and can offer local advice
• Batteryworld offers a battery recycling service

Once batteries have been dropped off or collected for recycling, they are sorted and sent to licensed facilities for processing; this is a complex process in which plastics and metal components are retrieved and reused. Some components are then used in the manufacture of new batteries.

How to reduce battery waste? Use mains power rather than battery power wherever possible to reduce the amount of battery waste you generate. Use recyclable batteries where possible instead of disposable ones. Always dispose of batteries thoughtfully.

Do your bit to protect the environment.