The city is trying to make it easier for people to be green.
A partnership with Thunder Bay Public Library has set up four bins at branches throughout the city to collect used batteries.
Another bin has been set up at the Victoriaville Civic Centre. City waste diversion and recycling co-ordinator Jason Sherband said it is all about making recycling household batteries easier for people.
“It’s just more of a convenience thing for people and to prevent them from disposing them in the garbage,” he said.
Batteries contain harmful materials like lead and mercury that can end up in waterways if not disposed of properly. And they turn up at the city dump.
“I think when you look at the spectrum of hazardous waste batteries is probably one of those common household items that you always find,” Sherband said. “People are maybe throwing them in the garbage when they’re not supposed to.”
The batteries will be shipped to a facility in the province that recycles 100 per cent of the battery. Sherband is hoping that the program will be a success and more bins will be added.
He cautions that only household batteries are accepted. Things like car batteries are accepted the city’s hazardous waste site at the John Street landfill.
