I don’t know if your house is anything like ours, but we seem to get through loads of batteries at the moment. Having 3 youngish children I guess helps this. Up until recently I guess we’ve just chucked the batteries in the bin and thought no more of it. However that seems irresponsible, and I’m not really sure what I should be doing with them so I’ve asked my local authority to tell me.
From: Simon Warrick [mailto:simon@trulyresponsible.org]
Sent: 04 January 2006 09:28
To: Customer Services
Subject: Disposing of AA BatteriesHello,
We seem to get through a lot of AA batteries, as just about every children’s toy that requires batteries in our house uses them. They also are used in the remote controls, our radio, portable CD players etc. They are of mixed type NiCad etc.
I assume I shouldn’t just throw these in to the dustbin for road side collection. Please can you tell me what I should be doing with them?
I regularly ask questions of the people I buy consumer goods from as I like to understand more about what I consume, however this is the first time I’ve asked similar questions of the people who dispose of my waste products. I always publish the question and response at http://trulyresponsible.org.
Many thanks for you help with this.
Best regards
Simon Warrick
I got a response - same day excellent. However I am concerned a little by the content.
From: Julie Whitehead [mailto:JWhitehead@swindon.gov.uk] On Behalf Of Customer Services
Sent: 04 January 2006 14:19
To: simon@trulyresponsible.org
Subject: RE: Disposing of AA BatteriesDear Mr Warrick.
Thank you for your enquiry. I have spoken to Swindon Commercial Services, who have informed me that you make take your batteries to the Recycling Centre at Waterside Park, or if it is the odd battery, they can be placed in your normal domestic waste.
Hope this is of assistance.
Regards
Julie Whitehead
Customer Services
Can Swindon Borough Council really be telling me that it is fine just to chuck the batteries in the Bin? How many others are doing the same thing I wonder? What are the consequences? Hmm..
From: Simon Warrick [mailto:simon@trulyresponsible.org]
Sent: 04 January 2006 14:32
To: Customer Services
Subject: RE: Disposing of AA BatteriesHello Julie,
Thanks very much for this information. It is just the odd battery - at a guess less than 10 a month…
However what concerns me is that if everyone is putting 10 batteries a month in the bin, that is a lot of batteries and potentially a lot of cadmium and other nasty stuff that is being chucked away. Has anyone ever figured out how many that could be each month?
If I put them in with the rest of my domestic waste will they just end up in a landfill or can they be sorted out? Where will they end up? I live in Bishopstone, so making a trip to the Recycling Centre at Waterside Park is quite a trek for a handful of batteries.
Once again thanks for your help so far.
Best regards
Simon Warrick