We published a post recently explaining Seattle’s new policy for consumer disposal of old, spent, and defective batteries. These unwanted items include miniature button cells, zinc air, alkaline, and silver oxide batteries. As well as lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, and other rechargeable items. A Seattle resident emailed and asked, “What must I do about recycling spent batteries now?”
Local Advice on Recycling Spent Batteries in Seattle
This inquiry put us in a quandary, because none of us are from Seattle, So we searched around until we found QUOW, which aims to be one of Puget Sound’s leading sources for news.
We learned that the council management system kicks in when a garbage hauler notices batteries in a trash bin or dumpster. Their instructions are to tag the container with a notice asking the customer to remove the items. Much the same goes for other items in the Director’s Notice.
But there’s a catch to the new policy for recycling spent batteries we hope Seattle residents won’t take advantage of. QUOW confirms it’s impossible for Seattle garbage haulers ‘to dig through trash cans’ in search for batteries. This includes those in black bags that obscure them from view.
The City Has to Rely on Stakeholder Cooperation
“There is not much we can do about them once they are in the garbage,” a city spokesperson admits.”But they can pose a very serious safety risk, and we’re asking our customers to help us”. The easiest way they could, would be for them to arrange a special pickup.
The city has a special items pickup program that allows a customer to arrange collection of items it does not usually uplift. So for example, it could pick up two one-gallon bags filled with batteries for a fee of $5. This could work, provided that batteries are not leaking or pose a threat.
The QUOW article lists seven other locations / ways to dispose of batteries in Seattle. It’s a big city with close to 800,000 residents.We are left wondering how effective this program for recycling spent batteries really is. Especially for busy householders without own transport who work long hours.
More Information
No Batteries in the Garbage Says Seattle
