Ohio city launches battery recycling program

The Division of Refuse and Recycling in Lakewood, Ohio, has launched a lithium battery collection program, Spectrum News 1 reports.

The city has partnered with the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District for the lithium battery recycling program, which enables the Lakewood Recycling Center to take in small household batteries—including sizes AA, AAA, C, D, 9V and watch-sized batteries or smoke detector batteries.  

Lithium batteries contain hazardous materials and pose a danger to waste collection facilities, says Stephanie Corbett with Case Western Reserve University.

“They are a fire hazard at the end of their life, or if they have a problem in the middle of their life,” Corbett says. “We want to make sure they get recycled because there’s some really important minerals that are hard to get and expensive to mine for that can be reused.”

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Large rechargeable lithium batteries such as those found in laptops, power tools, power banks and other electronic devices are not accepted through the program, however, those items can be dropped off at large retailers including Home Depot, Lowe’s and Staples by appointment, according to the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District.

Before dropping batteries off, residents are asked to tape over the battery terminals, an action that prevents fires from starting and causing hazards to workers and facilities. Once batteries are dropped off at participating facilities, they will be picked up and safety recycled.

“Anything that can be recycled and not sent to the landfill is a success, so I’d encourage people to take advantage of that,” says Chris Gordon, public works director for the city of Lakewood.