Credit: The new Science Center bin filled up after just a few days
Recycling batteries and small electronics has never been easier in FAS buildings! Our e-waste recycling program has recently been expanded to several high traffic locations and more than 30 buildings now feature conveniently located blue tubes for recycling batteries and other small electronics. E-tubes were first piloted this spring in the BioLabs. The pilot was an overwhelming success and the tube filled up within the first week. Many of the building occupants (myself included) had been hoarding batteries in their drawers for months and were either unsure as to where to recycle them or found it inconvenient to walk all the way to an "off the beaten path" collection station.
Just a few days after we installed a blue tube in the lobby of Barker Center, Mo Moulton, Associate Director of Studies in History & Literature, emailed us saying that in thanks to the bin she had finally gotten rid of the sack of used-up batteries she had lying around. The bins are a powerful visual reminder about the importance of recycling batteries and make doing so easier than ever. The sheer volume of batteries collected each week makes one realize how many batteries we all use in our daily lives and how committed our community is to reducing our environmental impact. If your building doesn’t yet have a blue tube, you can bring your small electronics to your building's main universal waste collection area. You can also visit our new online e-waste map to find the closest e-waste collection area to your office.
A few quick facts about batteries:
- Batteries contain a variety of heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, nickel and mercury. All of these can be extremely toxic to both humans and the environment.
- If a battery is burned, it can send dangerous fumes into the air.
- Most of the 2.9 billion batteries discarded each year end up in a landfill and cause unnecessary pollution.
- Lead from batteries can be recycled to make lead plates used in automotive batteries. Additionally, the recycled plastic can be used as new plastic covers and cases of batteries.
- Today's rechargeable batteries can offer up to 1,000 times more power than non-recyclable batteries, making them an eco-friendly alternative.
The bins are a powerful visual reminder about the importance of recycling batteries and make doing so easier than ever.
