Battery recycling
Batteries are common in many households, used to power many of
your everyday appliances such as radios, remote controls and
electric toys. However, battery recycling levels in the UK are
among the poorest in Europe with 600 million sent to landfill in
the UK each year, the equivalent weight of 110 jumbo jets.
To combat this Broxbourne Council, in partnership with ERP and
Hertfordshire County Council, have set up recycling points for
batteries across the Borough. Designated collection
points are located at all one stop shops and at the level
3 reception of the Council Offices for the collection of batteries.
Most domestic batteries are accepted including AAA and AA cells,
size C and D batteries, button batteries and batteries from mobile
phones, laptops and power tools.
Throwing batteries away has a number of negative impacts:
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1. A large energy deficit with each battery
estimated to use 50 times more energy in its production than it
produced in its lifetime.
2. Vast amounts of valuable metals and
chemicals will be wasted.
3. The possibility that harmful chemicals
such as lead and mercury will leak into local ecosystems and
cause environmental damage.
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By recycling more batteries the resources they
contain can be used in manufacturing new batteries,
conserving resources and lessening the overall amount of energy
used to make them. Additionally, their resources can be used in the
production of a range of other household goods including clothing,
shoes and bottles. The potential for environmental damage will also
be decreased.
For more information including locations of
the collections points please click here.
Further details on your local one stop
shops, including locations and maps can be found here. If you
have any further queries please email recycling@broxbourne.gov.uk