New battery recycling bins for Perth

Environment Minister Donna Faragher today launched a new recycling initiative to encourage Perth residents to recycle common household batteries.

The Metropolitan Household Battery Recycling program, the first community-based program of its kind in Australia, provides householders with the opportunity to safely dispose of and recycle old batteries.

Under the program, being rolled out by Perth's five metropolitan regional councils, 150 new battery drop-off recycling bins have been installed in public libraries, council administration offices and leisure centres across Perth. From the bins, the batteries are collected, sorted, melted and recycled into new products.

At the launch, Mrs Faragher said every time batteries were sent to landfill their casings disintegrated and chemicals leached into the ground.

"It is estimated that each year, more than 18 million household batteries are thrown away in Western Australia," the Minister said.

"By simply separating batteries from ordinary household rubbish, these valuable resources can be recycled into a range of new products, such as street lights, car parts, building materials, fertilisers and more."

"This is a wonderful initiative that puts old batteries to good use long after they've served their intended purpose.

"If everyone does their bit to recycle waste, we can all help to create a greener and cleaner planet in which to live." 

For a full list of battery recycling bin locations visit http://www.zerowastewa.com.au or phone (08) 6364 6500