Survey Highlights Critical Knowledge Gap When it Comes to Battery Disposal
HARTLAND, Wis. and CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lithium batteries power consumers' modern lives, with the average household owning nine battery-powered devices, driven by the rapid increase of portable electronics, appliances and more. But what happens when those batteries reach the end of their life? In honor of National Battery Day on February 18, Batteries Plus and Cirba Solutions are raising awareness about the importance of consumer action in a battery's lifecycle.
Batteries Plus is the nation's largest specialty battery retailer with over 730 locations in 46 states and Puerto Rico. Cirba Solutions is the premier battery recycling materials and management company with the largest operational footprint in North America with six facilities.
A recent report released by Cirba Solutions, The Consumer Lithium Landscape, highlights a critical knowledge gap when it comes to battery disposal, including:
"Consumers rely on batteries daily, yet the knowledge of how to recycle them is alarmingly low," said Scott Williams, CEO of Batteries Plus. "As the Power Experts, Batteries Plus is committed to not only helping customers power their devices but also empowering the American supply chain and bolstering our nation's resources of critical materials across households, government buildings, municipalities and more."
How Consumers Can Take Action
This National Battery Day, Batteries Plus and Cirba Solutions encourage everyone to think about the importance of recycling their used batteries. Whether it's the batteries in your TV remote, smartphone, power tools, or even an electric vehicle, properly recycling them helps reduce waste and allows valuable materials to be recovered and reused. In fact, recycled materials from old batteries can be used to help make new ones, keeping them out of landfills and giving them a second life in a more sustainable cycle. By recycling batteries here in the U.S., we can take meaningful steps toward building a more efficient battery system for the future.
Both companies are committed to making battery recycling easier for consumers. Recycling even the smallest of batteries can have a positive impact on the American economy. Recycling also helps create a robust supply chain for critical minerals that go into powering our everyday lives from personal computers to vital medical equipment.
Access to Battery Recycling
To mitigate risks and address the knowledge gaps highlighted in the report referenced, Batteries Plus, in partnership with Cirba Solutions, has made in-store battery recycling accessible at its 730+ locations nationwide, offering simple, convenient solutions for consumers. Individuals can drop off end-of-life batteries of all sizes and formats – from lead-acid vehicle batteries to household lithium-ion batteries – at a Batteries Plus location. These batteries are then safely transported to a Cirba Solutions facility for recycling and processing to ultimately extract the critical materials (lithium, cobalt, nickel, etc.) to be put back into the domestic supply chain and reused to produce new batteries.
Safety Hazards of Improper Battery Disposal
When disposed of incorrectly, lithium batteries can pose risks, including fire hazards and safety risks to people, businesses and the community. By tossing used batteries in the trash, consumers may unknowingly endanger their homes, communities and ecosystems.
"Batteries are an essential part of daily life for most consumers, and their impact does not stop at the end of their first lifecycle," said David Klanecky, CEO and President of Cirba Solutions. "As the world continues to advance, more and more devices require the use of batteries. Consumer education and access to responsible recycling will be important to ensure we protect these precious resources because the metals found in batteries have already been extracted from the earth, and it's our responsibility to reuse them over and over again. We can do this by keeping batteries out of improper disposal streams to allow for the recovery of the valuable minerals inside them, helping to ensure a more sustainable and efficient domestic supply of critical metals for future uses."
To learn more about how to recycle batteries responsibly and explore the recycling solutions offered by Batteries Plus, visit: www.batteriesplus.com. To learn more about the battery recycling process, please visit: www.cirbasolutions.com.
ABOUT BATTERIES PLUS:
Batteries Plus is a specialty retailer that offers an unmatched selection of battery solutions for consumers, no matter their power needs. With over 730 locations in 46 states and Puerto Rico, the retailer not only has unrivaled selection when it comes to meeting consumer's power needs but its stores offer expertise to go along with any purchase. Headquartered in Hartland, Wisconsin, Batteries Plus is owned by Freeman Spogli, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles and New York City. To learn more about Batteries Plus and its products and services, visit www.batteriesplus.com.
ABOUT CIRBA SOLUTIONS
Cirba Solutions is a premier battery recycling materials and management company extracting critical materials from scrap and used batteries, and then supplying those battery-grade metals back into the supply chain. As the only vertically integrated team with an operational, differentiated platform and a full suite of capabilities, Cirba Solutions is leading the creation of a circular battery supply chain. www.cirbasolutions.com.
SOURCE Cirba Solutions; Batteries Plus
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