Your Guide to Safely Recycling Batteries

Batteries power our lives, from our mobile phones that wake us up in the morning to the tools that help us build and create, these small energy packs are everywhere. But what happens when they run out of juice, where do they go? Hint: Batteries are banned from the garbage. We've created a handy guide to help you easily find the information you need to dispose your batteries safely.

The Journey of a Discarded Battery

What if that single action sets off a chain of events with serious consequences?

It all starts when the garbage truck rolls through your neighborhood collecting all the garbage carts. Among the usual trash is an item that is not allowed in the garbage. No bigger than your thumb, nestled in a pile of waste, is a discarded battery. The truck kicks into gear, collecting the garbage carts, one by one, as it moves on to unload the day's haul at the local Transfer Station.

It's another busy day at the Transfer Station. With an average of 500 to 600 visitors a day, SPU staff are greeting customers and directing trucks as waste is moved and transported using heavy machinery.

The battery, unseen in the bag, along with other waste, finds itself being crushed heavy machinery and routine operations suddenly turn dangerous. The battery starts to smoke. Within seconds the smoldering battery ignites other materials, starting a fire inside the Transfer Station. Everyone in and around the station is in harm's way - staff, members of the public, and the surrounding neighborhood. SPU staff spring into action to keep everyone safe.

This isn't just a story, it's a real-life scenario that plays out more often than you might think.

The Not-so-Hidden Dangers of Batteries

Batteries are the leading cause of fires at SPU Transfer Stations. While we don't know for certain the cause of every fire, we do know that lithium batteries continue to be discarded in the garbage.

[Link]Seattle Fire responds to a fire inside the North Transfer Station

From miniature button cell batteries and single-use alkaline batteries to lithium-ion and other rechargeable batteries, these items can contain harmful materials such as mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel, and lithium. These materials can be dangerous to people, animals, and the environment.

We are incredibly grateful to SPU staff who stay vigilant and spring into action during emergencies like battery-related fires, but we also recognize that these fires are preventable. We can help keep our communities safe by keeping batteries out of the garbage.

Good News, You Can Easily Dispose Batteries Responsibly

Seattle neighbors have several convenient options to drop off batteries or schedule a Special Item Pickup:

• Free drop off at the Household Hazardous Waste Facilities: North Hazardous Waste Facility (12550 Stone Avenue North) and South Hazardous Waste Facility (8100 2^nd Ave S)
  • Separate batteries from devices and tape the ends of individual household batteries
• Any location listed on Call2Recycle.org or E-cycle WA locations
• Residents can also schedule a special item pickup at home for a fee: $5 for batteries, $20 for a Special Items box (batteries, small appliances, etc.), or $30 for larger electronics (TVs larger than 2 ft.)
• Free drop off at the Transfer Stations: North Transfer Station (1350 North 24^th Street) and South Transfer Station (130 South Kenyon Street)
  • Separate batteries from devices and tape the ends of individual household batteries

If a battery is damaged or defective, drop it off at a Household Hazardous Waste Management facility (free of charge).

Stay informed and stay safe! Together, we can make sure hazardous items like batteries are handled with care and ensure the safety of SPU staff, your community, and the environment.

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