What do you do with household batteries that aren’t rechargeable once they are used up? An innovative new pilot program officially launched today aims to help answer that question.
“Each year the average Island family uses nearly two dozen non-rechargeable batteries in everything from clocks and watches to hearing aids and smoke detectors,@ said Transportation and Public Works Minister Gail Shea, Minister Responsible for Island Waste Management Corporation (IWMC). “Those batteries contain metals and acids which can damage our environment through inappropriate disposal so it’s important to manage this volume of material effectively. That’s why we’re very pleased to partner with Island businesses to launch the Re-store Your Batteries initiative.”
The Island Waste Management Corporation, in partnership with participating Island grocery retailers, have introduced a new customer service initiative called “Re-Store Your Batteries.” The objective of this new service is to provide a convenient means to dispose of non-rechargeable batteries in an environmentally responsible manner. This service will allow Islanders and visitors to return alkaline/lithium batteries (D, C, AA, AAA, 9-volt, 12-volt, etc.) as well as button type batteries (watch, hearing aid batteries, etc.) at no charge. All types of household batteries can also be returned to a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) depot at your nearest Waste Watch Drop-Off Center at no charge.
“All parts of a battery can be reclaimed for use in new batteries and in the making of stainless steel so used batteries should never be placed in compost and waste carts or in blue bags,” said Gerry Moore, CEO of Island Waste Management Corporation. “This convenient new service for Islanders will help keep toxic elements out of Island landfills and allow batteries to be reclaimed.”
The Re-Store Your Batteries initiative will see displays set up at nearly two dozen participating Island grocery retailers, including Atlantic Superstore; Sobeys; Co-op; Price Choppers and Save Easy.
“Atlantic Superstore is proud to be a partner in the Re-Store Your Batteries initiative and help do our part to protect our environment by helping offer this convenient service to dispose of non-rechargeable batteries safely,” said Shawn MacGillivray, Manager of the Charlottetown Superstore.
Island Waste Management Corporation (IWMC) is the provincial Crown Agency that manages and administers solid waste management services province-wide. Among these services are delivering the Waste Watch program, Canada’s only province wide source separation waste management system. Since the Waste Watch program went province wide in 2002, nearly 600 million pounds of organic and recyclable waste has been diverted from Island landfills. This has offered significant protection to the Island’s groundwater supply and helped position Prince Edward Island as a national leader in responsible environmental stewardship practices.