Battery Recycling Program
Batteries are the most common form of hazardous waste disposed of by Australian households, with 97% ending up in the general waste bin. Used household batteries can be dropped off in over 20 locations in Perth’s western suburbs including libraries, council offices, schools, retail (now at Bunnings Stores in Claremont, Cottesloe and Subiaco Homebase) and recreation facilities (now at the Grove Library in Peppermint Grove, Subiaco Library, Claremont Aquatic Centre and Lords Recreation Centre in Subiaco). The collected batteries are taken to the JFR (Jim) McGeough Resource Recovery Facility where they are weighed and stockpiled for recycling.
The types of batteries accepted include:
- AA and AAA cells (single use & rechargeable batteries)
- C and D sized batteries
- Button batteries (e.g. from watches)
- 9V batteries
- 6V batteries (e.g. lantern/torch batteries)
Other types of batteries (eg lead-acid batteries) should be dropped off directly to the JRF (Jim) McGeough Resource Recovery Facility
Seeking Battery Recyclers
The WMRC is seeking small local businesses located in our member Council areas* interested in collecting batteries for recycling from the general
public. Free desktop containers are available for locations such as medical and health centres, cafes, churches and small businesses where the public can drop off their used household batteries. Once your container is full simply empty it for free at one of the public place locations and continue collecting batteries. To get involved please contact Western Earth Carers on 9384 4003 or by email.
We also have a school battery recycling program encouraging students and the wider school community to recycle their batteries. This is open to schools in our Member Council areas*.
What are the benefits of recycling batteries?
Household batteries contain metals such as zinc, manganese and steel which, like many natural resources, are found in limited supply. Separating batteries for recycling reduces the incidence of these valuable metals ending their life in landfill.
What happens to my batteries?
The batteries are collected for a metropolitan-wide shipment and go to recyclers:
Alkaline/Zinc Carbon/Zinc Air batteries are recycled during steel making processes
Nickel Cadmium Batteries are recycled via a High-Temperature Metal Reclamation (HTMR) process in Europe
Lithium Ion Batteries are recycled in Singapore through technology which recovers cobalt, lithium carbonate, scrap metal, and other precious metals
*our Member Councils are Towns of Claremont, Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Shire of Peppermint Grove and the City of Subiaco
Household Battery Recycling Bin