Battery Recycling

The NMU battery recycling program began in 2008.  Battery recycling containers are located in each building on campus where consumer batteries can be placed by faculty, staff and students.  Central Receiving staff periodically collects them and stores them in 55 gallon drums.  The batteries are bi-annually picked up by an outside vendor.  They are then taken apart, recycled and disposed of by an approved method.

Since 2008 NMU has collected 3,500 pounds of dry cell batteries.  Varieties collected included, alkaline, NiCad, and lead acid cells.  Batteries are shipped to a recycling center where they are sorted and then transshipped to various melting companies based on the battery type.  However, in the last 10 years, over 800 documented cases of “battery incidents” have occurred in the US during the transportation of dry cell batteries.  Incidents range from batteries leaking, breaking, or catching fire, usually due to improper packaging or lack of insulation of batteries.  The collision of battery terminals can result in discharging or dangerous buildups of heat.

US Department of Transportation has recently established new regulation for handling, shipping, and transportation of dry cell batteries.  The new regulations require that batteries be properly insulated while being transported.  This can be done simply by taping the positive (+) end of each battery with tape or stickers before depositing them into collection bins.  

Is The Positive End(+) Of Your Batteries Protected?

Types of batteries accepted include:    AAA - AA - C - D - 9 Volt - Button - Photo Electronic - Lantern - Nickel Cadmium

Thank you for your cooperation and for recycling.  Please ensure the safety of our roads and the continued success of our battery recycling program.  Insulate the positive (+) end before disposing of your battery!