Power to Recycle
Everyone in our community now has the power to recycle used household batteries at Latrobe City Libraries and Service Centres via special battery buckets provided as part of Council’s environmental sustainability initiatives.
Among the first to make use of the system was Traralgon’s Vicki Needham.
“I fix computers, I had a few batteries that weren’t working and rather than put them in the rubbish I thought I’d pop into the library and put them in the tub.”
Vicki said at times she could have up to half a dozen computer batteries in need of disposal and finds the buckets at her library very convenient.
“I’ve always had an interest in computers and technology,” Vicki said.
“I fix small to large problems for people and often when they upgrade they give me their old devices to refurbish,” she said.
On occasion this means replacing the batteries and other components, many of which can be disposed of in the buckets supplied.
Vicki then re-gifts the computers to disadvantaged people who don’t have access to computers of their own and sends them on their way.
Most batteries under 5kg can be recycled, including all domestic alkaline (single use) and rechargeable batteries, batteries from phones, power tools, digital
cameras, hearing aids, laptops, electric shavers, video games, toys and video cameras.
Currently less than three per cent of all batteries purchased in Australia are recycled, meaning more than 14,000 tons of batteries end up in landfill each year.
Latrobe City Council has collected 172kgs of batteries since October, a great start but a long way off reaching international battery recovery standards.
Non-renewable battery components: lead, cadmium, mercury, lithium, manganese, nickel and zinc can be recycled indefinitely, provided they don’t end up in landfill.