The Canyon Lake Fire Department announced the launch of a new battery disposal program, made possible through a household hazardous waste grant awarded through CalRecycle. The grant will support the creation of a dedicated program for the safe disposal of expired batteries within the community.
Thanks to this funding, residents can now properly dispose of their expired batteries in the battery collection box conveniently located near the gate at the side of the fire station.
The grant covers the costs of a disposal box, a 55-gallon storage drum, sorting, disposal, and pick up of all collected batteries. The fire department has partnered with Union Battery Disposal, a fully insured and EPA-certified facility, to ensure that all collected batteries are properly recycled.
Eligible batteries for drop-off include single-use, rechargeable, alkaline, and lithium-ion, among others. Batteries not accepted included damaged batteries, puffed-up batteries, button cell batteries, and vehicle and golf cart batteries.
This new program aims to address the improper disposal of batteries and their detrimental impact on the surrounding ecosystem. Contaminants found in batteries, such as ionic liquids, lithium, and carbon-based nanomaterials emerge in the environment while e-waste, such as batteries, continues to increase. The listed contaminants negatively impact plant growth and have a high toxicity towards algae. With the fire department’s collection point, the number of batteries in local landfills is expected to reduce, minimizing the associated hazardous waste leaching into soil and groundwater systems.
