Household Battery Recycling Program
This is one of the most successful recycling programs the County administers; and has been copied by other counties in the State. This program began in February 1991 with the objective of removing household batteries and their hazardous contents from the solid waste stream.
Household batteries make up 10% to 25% of our hazardous waste stream. These types of batteries contain at least 22 toxic elements plus plastic and steel. All of these elements can be recovered and used in the re-manufacturing of new batteries and other consumer products: mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, silver, selenium and acids.
The success of our program is attributed to the joint efforts of staff and the County retail establishments. The program started with 49 drop off locations; today there are over 100 collection locations: retailers (e.g. K-Mart, Radio Shack, Wal-Mart), civic associations, municipalities, the school system, County buildings, recycling centers, and hazwaste centers.
To compliment this program, blue 5-gallon plastic containers have been distributed throughout the County at all participating locations. White and blue posters encouraging people to recycle batteries convey the use of these containers. Both containers and posters are placed at entrances, such as at the County libraries, or other easily noticed location. Some retailers place them where new batteries are sold or even behind the counter, so ask if you don't see one.
As the program matures, more and more batteries are collected and recycled. Today, the County recycles about 33,000 pounds annually. All batteries are packed and sent to a company in Pecos, Texas, where they are completely recycled. Raw materials recovered are sold on the open market and re-used.
To educate and encourage our school children to participate, County staff together with Pasco School Board's staff holds annual battery collection and recycling contests for students in Pasco County elementary schools. Prizes and awards are given to the top three schools. Funds for the prizes and awards are provided by a variety of sponsors.
If you are interested in participating in the Battery Recycling program, please take your old batteries to one of the drop off locations.
For more information or the location
nearest you,
please contact the
Environmental & HazWaste Programs Coordinator,
(727) 847-8041.