GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Brown County residents can recycle their batteries for free.
The Brown County Hazardous Material Recovery facility (HMR) is now accepting all types of household batteries and devices containing batteries.
Batteries that are accepted are button cell, AA, AAA, C, D, F, nickel cadmium, nickel metal-hydride and lithium ion.
Devices where the battery is not designed to be removed like phones, power banks, wireless headphones, electric razors, tablets and even toy robots can all be disposed free of charge at the HMR. Fees will still apply to automotive batteries as well as lead and lithium iron phosphate batteries.
For battery powered devices where the battery is designed to be removed, the removed household battery is free to recycle, but the remaining device is subject to a small recycling fee.
“For Brown County residents, this is a hassle-free option to dispose of batteries and battery containing devices,” said Mark Walter, Business Development Manager for Brown County Resource Recovery. “You’ll be doing the right thing for the environment and for the safety of our employees and facilities.”
Officials say proper battery disposal is critically important. In recent months. recycling and waste facilities all over the country have been experiencing an increase in fires from batteries being disposed of improperly, creating a health and safety hazard for workers.
“When batteries are thrown in the garbage or recycling, they can easily get damaged and start fires in our waste facilities,” Walter explained. “Providing an option that makes it easier for community members to correctly dispose of batteries can lower the risk of danger to facilities and employees.
The HMR facility, located at 2561 S. Broadway, is open to all Brown County residents and businesses, Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursdays from noon – 6 p.m. Before bringing batteries to the HMR, store in a non-metal, leak proof container.
