Recycling old batteries

While I was out and about, I came across a battery recycling scheme taking place at Currys Digital stores where I saw that they had a container filled with batteries for recycling.

I have an old Bisto container which houses all my used batteries (while I tried to figure out what to do with them), so I was glad to see that I can dump all my used old batteries for recycling. I now use rechargeable batteries most of the time so I don't really have to worry much about recycling old batteries which contain mercury, a poisonous chemical found in batteries. Well, at least you know that batteries can be recycled.

While talking to one of the Managers in-store, I was given some information about some other recycling schemes that they have. He told me that customers can drop off their used and old electrical equipment that needs to be recycled at Currys. I was impressed as sometimes you see these used electricals lying in the streets causing an eye-sore, so you can drop them off at Currys Digital for recycling.


How much do you get for recycling old batteries?

Well, as far as I know, you don't get anything for recycling old batteries in the UK, but you may get something for your battery recycling efforts in other parts of the world.

However, it is good to recycle them because batteries contain toxic chemicals and are dangerous to just dump in the dustbin.

Recycling Batteries at Currys and PC World

You can also recycle your old printer ink cartridges in the recycling bins provided instore.

Ink cartridge recycling at PC World and Currys

Update 18 June 2013

I saw an advert online where some people are buying old ink cartridges. So many you can do a search and see what's on offer for your old ink cartridges. I normally just send mine in those plastic charitable envelopes when I get a few piled up.

Recycle your old inkjet cartridges

Tommy's the baby charity participate in a recycling scheme to recycle old Hewlett Packard and Lexmark printer cartridges. This scheme is provided through www.inkagain.co.uk. Their recycle centre raises money for Tommy's vital research into the causes of miscarriage, premature births and stillbirths. They have a goal of £55,000 this year. When you visit the Inkagain website, there are other charities that are sponsored through the ink cartridge recycling scheme.

The environmental benefits are as follows:

• Inkjet cartridge recycling helps to reduce carbon emissions, a major cause of global warming, conserves resources and reduces waste

• Inkjet cartridges will take about 1000 years to decompose in landfills sites

To order their freepost recycling bags for your chosen charity you can:

1. Call: 0800 435576 quoting "Tommy's bag"
2. Email: tommysbags at inkagain.co.uk (just replace the at with the @ sign)
   
3. Fax: 020 8838 6777
4. Order via their website at www.inkagain.co.uk and click on charity scheme

Inkagain currently have a prize draw for some goodies up for grabs for everyone who sends in their used ink cartridges.

Tommy's the baby charity is a registered charity no. 1060508

Do you know of any other places where ink cartridges can be recycled or donated. If so, leave a comment below.




Comments on this topic......

alfred said...

"Ideally, used printer ink cartridges should find their way to special recycling centers where the materials these cartridges were made of are retrieved for future use. Unfortunately, only 25% of all those millions of cartridges consumed every year go that way. Most of them end up at some landfill or some other garbage facility instead. Save The Environment & Use Recycled Printer Ink Cartridge Always be conscientious even with the printer ink cartridges that you use. Recycle empty printer cartridges and buy remanufactured ink as much as possible."