Batteries and accumulators are indispensable to our fast lifestyle. Cars, phones, music, cameras and even our daily planners make our lives easier because of the power supplied by batteries.

We import and therefore use approximately 6,000,000 batteries and 60,000 accumulators each year. As we continue to make our lives easier with these portable items, battery and accumulator disposal is becoming an environmental challenge.

While the exact chemical make-up varies from type to type, most batteries contain heavy metals, which are the main cause for environmental concern. When disposed of incorrectly, these heavy metals may leak into the ground when the battery or accumulator casing wears away. In turn, this could contribute to soil and water pollution and endanger wildlife.

The battery recycling initiative launched by WasteServ has proved to be extremely successful as WasteServ prepares to export approximately 50 tonnes of batteries, collected from households, shops, schools and other outlets, to France for treatment. This quantity works out to approximately three container loads. At present, accumulators are passed on to a local sub-contractor who, on his own initiative, exports these for recycling.

The treatment process in both cases involves the recovery of metals. There are a number of different recycling processes for batteries and accumulators, which are aimed at recovering a variety of materials. Lead can be recovered from accumulators by either separating the different materials that make up the accumulator (lead, plastics, acid, etc.) prior to metallurgical processing. Alternatively, batteries can be processed as a whole through heat treatment in a particular type of furnace with metals being recovered at the end of this process.

If you would like to collect used batteries at your shop, office or school, call WasteServ on 8007 2200 and you will given a special container to collect the batteries in. This battery bin will be emptied on a regular basis, so all you have to do is call on freephone number 8007 2200 or send an inquiry to [email protected]