Batteries
New Changes to our Battery Recycling Program!
To protect drivers and prevent accidents, every battery must be insulated before recycling, and batteries must now be placed in boxes rather than buckets. These changes were made by our battery recycling vendor, Cirba Solutions. Following them will help ensure we recycle responsibly. See info below or download the Battery Recycling Flyer (PDF).
What does this mean?
Every battery must be insulated before recycling to help prevent short-circuiting. This means you need to individually insulate each battery in one of two ways:
- Place each battery in a clear, sealable plastic bag by itself, OR
- Cover the exposed terminals with clear tape.
Where do I find tape or plastic bags?
Don't worry about supplies—clear plastic bags and scotch tape are provided right at the battery recycling box in the Wayne Public Library. By following these simple steps, you help protect drivers, prevent accidents, and keep everyone safe!
What type of batteries can I recycle?
Only small household batteries are accepted for recycling. These include alkaline, zinc-carbon, NiMH, NiCd, less than 9 volts, non-lithium button cell, and lithium and lithium-ion (be sure to tape the exposed terminals).
What type of batteries are not accepted for recycling?
We do not accept large batteries, such as lead acid, electronic batteries, or anything over 9 volts.
Where do I take my batteries to be recycled?
The battery drop-off location is only at the Wayne Public Library at 410 Pearl Street. View the library’s hours here.
Why can't we take large batteries, like lead-acid and batteries over 9 volts ?
The battery recycling program started in December 2017 and has been a huge success, preventing over 7,000 pounds of batteries with toxic materials from entering the landfill. Unfortunately, this program is expensive. Each box holds up to 50 pounds of batteries and costs over $100. In the beginning, we often received boxes of larger batteries, such as lead-acid and 9-volt batteries (e.g., drill batteries), which required extra funds to ship. Although our community’s willingness to recycle batteries is wonderful, we could not afford to support this program. We currently receive grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, but must supplement it from our own budget when we exceed our grant limits. A good problem to have!
What should you do with your larger batteries?
Some retail outlets that sell these batteries will take them back (check with O’Reilly Auto Parts or Bomgaars, for example, for car and drill batteries). We will post more info if we find other outlets.
How are these batteries recycled?
The Wayne Green Team sends these batteries to Cirba Solutions in Michigan. They carefully sort the batteries based on chemistry to prepare them for recycling. To learn more about the different types of batteries, visit Battery Recycling Information.
How many batteries have we recycled?
Since our program started in 2017, our community has recycled more than 7,000 pounds of batteries. Last year, we recycled 1,600 pounds, an increase of 54%. Way to recycle right, Wayne America!
Still have questions?
We know these new rules are a bit confusing and require extra work. We have had many conversations with our vendor, Cirba Solutions, to understand how best to meet their requirements. If you still have questions, please email the Wayne Green Team at greenteam@cityofwayne.org. We appreciate your efforts to recycle right!