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It is really important that cleaning companies ensure batteries are separated from general waste at the point of disposal. Batteries require specialist recovery and/or treatment processes as, depending on the type of battery, there can be a very real risk of fi re and/or harmful chemicals can leach out into the ground if sent to landfi ll in general waste. Lithium-ion batteries are particularly at risk of causing a fi re, something which has been evidenced by various global news headlines over the last few years.

In 2013, Boeing’s fl eet of 787 Dreamliners was grounded by regulators aft er batteries smouldered during a fl ight over Japan. Others caught fi re on a different aircraft parked at a US airport, and in 2016, Samsung’s Galaxy Smartphones were banned from aeroplanes aft er it was discovered that the handset’s batteries could cause phones to smoulder and burn.

More recently, there have been reports of e-cigarettes, which contain lithium-ion batteries, where the battery has either overheated or exploded during the charging process, another example which demonstrates the potential hazards at our fi ngertips.

Inside every lithium-ion battery are cathodes, anodes and lithium, all held in a liquid carrying the essential charge. This allows the battery to function properly over a longer period of time, especially when compared to a traditional alkaline battery. Also inside is a porous membrane

of polypropylene, which keeps the electrodes from touching. Day-to-day this delicate balance works well, but if the battery is crushed - for example in a waste vehicle en route to a treatment facility - then its elements will react with the moisture and could short-circuit, causing a fi re. Given that all too oft en people remember to remove the battery when throwing away an item, or indeed struggle to safely remove it, you can see how serious the problem can be.

In the next few years, the increase in usage of lithium-ion batteries is expected to rise dramatically - Apple’s AirPod wireless headphones alone will introduce an estimated three billion more mini lithium-ion batteries to the market over the next decade - so the need for safe disposal is going to be even more critical. While the European Union has already introduced rules to make car

Taking ‘charge’ of battery disposal

From mobile phones to fitness trackers, laptops and even the cars we drive, the battery is a ubiquitous part of daily life, something we depend on to power us almost every step of the way. But, as Toni Robinson, Grundon’s head of compliance, explains, the challenge is less about how to keep going, and more about what to do with them when they expire.

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manufacturers responsible for battery recycling - positive news for the growing electric car market - putting simple warnings on small batteries isn’t happening fast enough.

Grundon is working with other organisations in the industry to encourage manufacturers to put hazard warnings on the batteries and to promote recycling. We already operate a strict Lithium Battery Disposal Acceptance Procedure and encourage our cleaning company partners to be aware of this. Anyone disposing of lithium batteries must sign documentation to certify that all the batteries are intact, and the terminals have been completely and securely covered, in order to avoid the potential for contact between terminals. If consignments are found to contain insecure lithium batteries, then they are likely to be rejected, with the customer having to foot an additional bill.

This type of battery aside, other batteries must also be disposed of safely as any one of them can generate a spark. We segregate and recycle a wide range of battery types, individual

cells and power packs, including sealed and wet Nickel cadmium (NiCd), Nickel metal hydride (NiMH), Lithium ion (Li-ion), sealed and wet Lead acid (Pb), Mercury (Hg) batteries, and alkaline batteries, e.g. Zinc carbon.

By working in partnership with cleaning companies, we can suggest solutions such as our popular Haz-Box service, which provides a cost-effective and easy to use solution for

the safe storage of mixed hazardous waste. Small enough to fit neatly into a cupboard or under a desk, it is ideal for smaller items - such as batteries - that should not be placed into normal mixed recycling or general waste bins.

Batteries must be placed into a separate container inside the Haz-Box to avoid them coming into contact with other hazardous waste items, and we can also supply a standard plastic container for batteries. When it’s time to collect the Haz-Box, one of our drivers, whose training and ADR (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) qualifications allows them to pack and transport hazardous waste on the public highway, will take the waste back to our Hazardous Waste Transfer Station for further segregation and sorting.

Ultimately, the precious metals such as lead will be extracted and sent to specialist smelters, acids and other chemicals can be recovered and reprocessed, and plastics will also be recycled.

To find out more, please contact technical@grundon.com or call us on 01491 834 340.WWW.GRUNDON.COM

Advice on safe and secure battery disposal

n Treat all waste batteries with caution.

n Ensure cleaning staff know what to do with batteries.n Separate lithium batteries and

isolate the terminals by wrapping in tape.

n Dispose of unwanted batteries regularly to avoid large quantities stacking up.n Work with an expert waste

management supplier who understands the issues associated with batteries and recycling.

n If in doubt, ask an expert.