When it comes to recycling old batteries and bulbs, many organizations have questions. It can be confusing determining which particular products can be recycled and how your institution should actually go about recycling them.

Procurement leaders can walk through this process with their group purchasing organization (GPO) as an advisor to make moves toward incorporating sustainable practices in procurement, supply chain, and do it cost-effectively with supplier partners like Batteries Plus.

Here are the what's, where's and how's of recycling, as well as the impact recycling has on your sustainability efforts...

Why Your Facility Should Recycle

We’re all aware that recycling is important, but here are a few specific reasons why your business should recycle its old batteries and bulbs.

Recycling keeps harmful materials out of landfills.

Both batteries and light bulbs contain materials such as mercury, cadmium and lead that can harm the environment and even infiltrate water supplies. Proper recycling prevents these materials from leeching into the soil.

Recycling reduces the need for raw materials and helps to conserve resources.

Obtaining many of the materials used in batteries is both expensive and harmful to the environment. Recycling reduces the need to mine more of these substances. This impact can be significant. For instance, almost 90% of the material found in a light bulb can be recycled, while 70% of a lead acid battery’s weight is reusable lead. Recycling also promotes reusing material in the production of new batteries, which can help keep their prices low.

Recycling is required by law.

Federal law mandates that certain types of batteries, including lead acid batteries, lithium-based and nickel cadmium batteries must be recycled. A number of states also have their own particular recycling laws. Ignoring these requirements can result in penalties, including severe fines.

Recycling creates jobs.

A recent EPA study found that in a single year, recycling helps to create 681,000 jobs and accounts for $36.6 billion in wages and $6.7 billion in tax revenues.

What Types of Batteries Can You Recycle?

Each year, Batteries Plus recycles roughly 47.5 million pounds of lead acid batteries and 1.68 million pounds of other battery types. Due to differences in state and local regulations, there is some variation in the type of recyclable material your local Batteries Plus store may accept. As a general rule though we accept the following:

Lead Acid: Lead acid batteries can be found in cars, trucks, emergency lighting, lawn equipment, floor scrubbers, UPS systems, and more.

Nickel Cadmium (NiCd): Nickel cadmium batteries can be found in rechargeable devices like cordless phones, drills, camcorders, calculators, electronic flash units and tool battery packs.

Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH): These batteries are commonly used in exit/emergency lights, flashlights, camcorders, cameras, barcode scanners, back-up power and battery packs.

Lithium Ion: Lithium ion batteries are used to power cell phones, laptops, two-way radios, scanners, tools, flashlights, watches and tool battery packs.

Alkaline: Used in common devices such as flashlights, microphones, thermometers, smoke detectors, fire alarms and touchless hand sanitizer and air freshener stations, sinks, toilets and paper towel dispensers.

What Types of Light Bulbs Can You Recycle?

In an average year, Batteries Plus recycles over half a million pounds of light bulbs and over 30,000 pounds of ballasts. Batteries Plus recycles the following types of light bulbs:

There are many reasons to recycle your facility’s spent batteries and light bulbs. Batteries Plus makes recycling easy.

Whether you’re a small or large business with dozens of different locations, our experts will work with you to help tackle your recycling needs. When you choose us as your recycling partner, you can also be sure your organization is in full compliance with all federal, state, municipal, EPA and DOT regulations. Plus, we can provide you with any documentation you require for your records.

More About Batteries Plus & OMNIA Partners

Batteries Plus is the nation’s largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb, key fob and tablet/cell phone repair retailer, with a nationwide network of more than 700 stores. Our selection of more than 60,000 types of batteries, light bulbs and accessories makes us the provider of choice for an enormous range of industries.

The partnership between OMNIA Partners and Batteries Plus brings added value to procurement teams and offers quality batteries, light bulbs, accessories & more at discounts up to 40% off retail pricing. Leveraging group purchasing, OMNIA Partners members have immediate access to discounts and services.