Almost 850 battery recycling bins have now been installed at Coles stores around Australia, as the retailer works to provide customers with a safe, convenient and effective way to recycle batteries and reduce household waste.
Customers are encouraged to bring their household batteries to the clearly marked recycling bins located at the front of each store to give the batteries a second life rather than going to landfill.
Coles General Manager of Sustainability Brooke Donnelly says batteries are one of the fastest growing waste problems in Australia, and this initiative not only helps to address the challenge, but also advances our transition to a circular economy.
‘It’s estimated that Aussies have more than 150 million loose batteries in their homes but only 12 per cent are currently being recycled,’ she said. ‘By adding battery collection bins out the front of our stores we’re providing a way for our customers to recycle their batteries that is safe and convenient.’
Partnership
Coles has become an accredited participant of the government-backed battery recycling scheme B-cycle, and through this agreement has partnered with materials recovery companies Close the Loop and Ecobatt to manage the bins, battery collection and recycling.
B-cycle CEO Libby Chaplin said the country’s first Battery Stewardship Scheme was pleased to welcome Coles to the program and believes it will help increase the public’s awareness around battery recycling.
‘Before the scheme launched in 2021, 63 per cent of people said they were disposing their batteries in their general waste and recycling bins. Thankfully that is changing now and through our partnership with Coles, and the addition of 846 bins at the front of their stores, more customers will learn that batteries need to go to a dedicated battery drop-off point instead,’ said Ms Chaplin.
Close the Loop spokesperson Kesh Nair commended Coles on its decision to roll out battery bins at the majority its stores. He said disposing of batteries correctly can prevent a number of risks such as leakage of hazardous materials into the environment.
‘The bins use innovative technology that can detect fire risks before they occur and notify us when the batteries are ready for collection,’ said Mr Nair.
‘The batteries are then taken for sorting and recycled into materials and products like new batteries. This is a far better alternative than going to landfill, where there is additional risk of leakage of hazardous materials into soil, water and drainage systems.’
Planet Ark CEO Rebecca Gilling said, ‘Our research shows many Australians remain unaware that batteries should never be put in your household recycling or garbage bin. The visibility and convenience of this initiative will help shift customer behaviour by making it easy for people to do the right thing and recycle their batteries.’
The Coles bins accept any brand of AA, AAA, C, D and rectangular 6 and 9 volt batteries, as well as button cell batteries. Customers who use the collection bins to recycle their batteries are asked to tape the ends with sticky tape around the battery terminals to help prevent fires.
