Cirba Solutions increasing national battery recycling access

In honor of the National Fire Prevention Association’s (NFPA’s) annual Fire Prevention Week, taking place Oct. 5-11, Charlotte, North Carolina-based battery recycler Cirba Solutions is launching its WeRecycle Interactive Battery Recycling Map, designed to provide consumers with local businesses and organizations that will accept batteries, including lithium-ion, for recycling.

When consumers enter their zip code, city or state, the interactive map will populate with recycling locations near them. The map features nearly 750 locations across the United States where consumers can recycle end-of-life batteries, including retailers, municipalities and Cirba Solutions locations.

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“Educating local communities on why it's important to recycle batteries and creating more access to recycle them safely is a key pillar in our community outreach efforts,” says Karen Gay, Cirba Solutions’ community engagement manager. “In a recent survey, nearly 50 percent of respondents are aware that lithium batteries shouldn't be disposed of in regular trash bins but do so anyway because they are unsure of where to dispose of them. Through this interactive tool, the public is provided with access to locations, removing a key barrier of not knowing where to go when recycling end-of-life batteries.”

Cirba Solutions is seeking to expand access to battery recycling through a wide range of initiatives, and its partnership with Batteries Plus serves as a key example. Headquartered in Hartland, Wisconsin, Batteries Plus is a battery and power solutions service center with more than 730 locations nationwide that accept end-of-life batteries for recycling. Batteries Plus sites, as well as many others, can be found on Cirba Solutions' WeRecycle Map.

“Given the prominence of batteries, and specifically lithium-based batteries, in consumer devices, better understanding of proper recycling practices is not only critical for safe and proper recycling, but in creating a more stable domestic supply chain of critical minerals,” Cirba Solutions says, adding that in The Consumers Lithium Landscape report, results show access to recycling locations is a significant barrier.

Moreover, the report reveals more than 40 percent of respondents didn’t have access to a place that accepts batteries near their home and had to drive more than 10 miles to find a location to recycle batteries.

“When access to battery recycling increases, Cirba Solutions and its partners can help reduce barriers,” the company says.

To further remove barriers and safely recycle batteries, Cirba Solutions also offers its WeRecycle Battery Boxes, kits the company says enable users to recycle their end-of-life batteries safely and easily. With the box, customers can collect dry cell batteries and handheld electronics in one container, then ship it to Cirba Solutions for recycling.

Offered in different sizes, the company says its prepaid recycling boxes come with all necessary elements to fit U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines for handling, packaging and transportation needed to recycle batteries.