FAQ: Battery Recycling

Q. Where can I recycle my batteries on campus?

A. Rechargeable batteries, including cell phone batteries, can be recycled in the e-waste bins in the ZSR Library and Benson University Center.

As you may know AAA-D batteries no longer contain Mercury and are therefore no longer considered Universal Waste. Most municipalities and counties advise landfilling those types of batteries.

Some divisions on campus have been collecting AAA-D batteries for “recycling” (technically they’re downcycled and components are recycled). The nearest facility that takes them is in Florida. We calculated the effects (fuel, emissions, etc.) associated with shipping the batteries away for recycling, versus landfilling them. The relative impact of those batteries going into the trash, compared to the impact of the amounts of other recyclable waste streams (like paper) going into the trash, is negligible.