SUBJECT:  Disposal of Batteries

All batteries are now classified as "hazardous waste." Batteries have been determined to be unsuitable for disposal as municipal solid waste because they contain toxic heavy metals and have corrosive properties. Batteries are not to be placed in waste baskets or dumpsters where they will end up as municipal trash. Instead, Environment, Health and Safety has developed procedures to collect all used batteries generated at UCSD and send them for recycling or proper disposal.

This new disposal requirement applies to batteries coming from typical sources, such as cell phones, pagers, cameras, computers, flashlights, power tools, research equipment, monitoring devices, health monitors, lanterns, burglar alarms, emergency light batteries...and the list goes on.

The new disposal requirement applies to all types and all sizes of batteries, including but not limited to: Alkaline, Nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), Silver button (Ag), Mercury (Hg), Sealed lead acid (Pb), Wet lead acid, Carbon-zinc, and Lithium Ion.

Procedures for disposing of batteries vary depending upon location, battery condition, and the UCSD operation generating the batteries. Please follow the procedures for proper disposal on the Blink website at http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/battery.

Working together, we can continue to build our commitment to environmental stewardship, one battery at a time.

                                                Steve Benedict
                                                Director
                                                Environment, Health and Safety