Battery Recycling Collection

Ever felt confused about the safe disposal of batteries? You’re not alone!

Battery Recycling collection for your business

With our everyday life increasingly relying on devices that run on batteries (phones, laptops, anything with AA batteries in it...), recycling them has never been more important.

If recycled properly, up to 95% of the battery components can be used again, which is why First Mile is dedicated to helping your business dispose of your battery waste in a safe and sustainable manner.

We provide two types of battery recycling collection services for businesses: pay-as-you-go sack collection and 10L bin collection. Both available on a flexible and reliable schedule of your choosing - no contract required.

Available nationwide, we offer a price match promise, comply with local council time-bands and provide all compliance documentation for your business such as Waste Transfer Notes.

Plus we offer lots of great service extras such as a 24/7 support, an online customer portal, industry leading carbon reporting and more.

 

Discover what battery recycling service is right for your business

Sack collections

Order sacks online, we'll deliver in 1-3 working days. Collections start on the first day of your selected schedule. Order more sacks from your online portal.
from
£6.02

Battery recycling bins

Simply place your used batteries into our small battery recycling bin and our team will collect them from your chosen location at your convenience.
from
£35.50

How does pricing for battery recycling collections work?

Sack collections:

The price shown for our battery recycling sack service is per sack (+VAT). Sacks are sold in quantities of 10 on a pay-as-you-go basis with no contract required.

 

The upfront cost includes the cost of collection and recycling of materials, documentation and service extras, with no hidden costs.

Battery bin collections:

The price shown for Battery bin services is per bin (+VAT). Our batteries recycling bins can old up to 10 litres of waste.

What can go in Battery Recycling bins and sacks

Dry cell batteries
Alkaline & carbon
Lithium
UPS batteries 
Server battieries

Please keep out of Battery Recycling bins and sacks

Chargers
Car batteries
Need to display instructions?
Download poster

How are batteries recycled?

All batteries are taken to a specialist recycling company in the Midlands, where they’re sorted by battery type. Different types of batteries need different recycling methods (a laptop battery has different elements to an AA battery, for example), but they all contain valuable metals such as lead, nickel, zinc and cobalt.

Recycling these non-renewable elements is a big plus for the planet and keeping them out of landfills is essential as they can leak harmful chemicals that can end up contaminating the soil and water sources.

Our specialist partner extracts the metals and other compounds using a process called 'hydrometallurgical extraction’, and these can then be re-used to create new batteries and other products.

Why set up a Batteries Collection with First Mile?

Easy switch from your current business waste provider

Flexible business waste and recycling collections up to 2 times a day, 7 days a week

Amazing support available 24/7/365 from our specialist commercial waste collection team

Service Extras, like compliance certificates, weighing and data, and posters

How to dispose of batteries in the UK

Unfortunately, over 20,000 tonnes of batteries make their way to landfill every year, where they corrode and leach toxic chemicals into the environment.

As users don't know how to dispose of batteries, these toxins are absorbed into the soil and end up infiltrating our water supply, endangering wildlife and humans.

Batteries Recycling FAQs

How do you recycle lithium batteries?

These are rechargeable batteries used in laptops and phones and recycling them is a bit more complex than dry cell batteries.

They must first be deactivated and disassembled before being crushed to recover the electrolyte. The metals and minerals are then extracted and repurposed to manufacture new electronics or even converted into energy!  

Which laws govern battery recycling?

There are two main pieces of legislation linked to battery recycling - the Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2008 and the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009. These require your business to ensure any old battery is disposed of safely.  

What should I do if an old battery leaks?

Remove the damaged battery from its device with gloves to ensure there is no skin contact, as the chemicals released may burn you if you touch them. Place it in a clear plastic bag and put it in a secure place until your collection date.  

Can AA batteries go in the bin?

No! Please put them in your battery collection sack or bin to ensure they are recycled properly and don’t end up in a landfill.  

What is battery waste?

Battery waste refers to any old batteries you may have that cannot be recharged or used again. Whether it is a lithium laptop battery or an accumulation of old AA and AAA batteries, these can be harmful if they end up in a landfill.

Because of the dangerous materials and substances used to manufacture them, such as nickel and lead, old batteries are classed as hazardous waste and need to be recycled safely and sustainably.  

How are Batteries recycled?

Once collected, your batteries will be taken to a specialist battery recycling company, where the chemicals are taken out using a process called hydrometallurgical extraction and turned into new products, such as energy.

Furthermore, the recovered metals, like silver and palladium, can then also be reused.  

Do you offer Battery Recycling near me?

We offer battery recycling in London and Birmingham around our major sorting plants, although we also provide services in other areas across the UK. We’re also available for no-contract services, and the best way to find out if we’re in your area is to check your postcode!

Who needs Battery Recycling?

Due to the world’s reliance on electronic devices, batteries are a very common form of business waste. From dry cell batteries (AA, AAA…) to lithium batteries in laptops and phones, there is a steady flow of old batteries in need of recycling. This means all types of businesses, from offices to shops, will need to recycle batteries at some point.  

Not sure what you need?

Contact us to assess your needs and get a free quote.
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