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A new drop off centre in Kaiapoi aims to encourage Waimakariri residents to dispose of old batteries safely.
Councillor Niki Mealings, the council’s solid waste and sustainability portfolio holder, says old batteries are hazardous waste and pose a fire risk.
The Waimakariri District Council is trialling a battery drop-off centre at the Kaiapoi Library in collaboration with Phoenix Recycling Group.
Old batteries can also be taken to the Southbrook and Oxford transfer stations.
‘‘People will often throw them out in the rubbish and don’t really think about,’’ Cr Mealings said.
‘‘But rubbish gets compacted several times - in the truck and in the containers at the transfer station and then at Kate Valley.’’
There have been four battery related fires in the Waimakariri district over the last few years.
All old batteries up to 5kg, including power tool batteries, household batteries and watch batteries, can be dropped off at the Kaiapoi Library drop-off centre, at the car park entrance, during library opening hours.
The terminals need to be taped over, or batteries placed in a plastic bag.
Items which have enclosed battery, such as disposal vapes, old mobile phones or children’s toys, can be dropped off, as long as they placed in a plastic bag.
The collection container is monitored 24/7 in case of fire.
Old car batteries and other large batteries can be taken to the transfer stations.
The batteries are then shipped off to certified facilities in South Korea and Japan, where their components are reused.
Cr Mealings said the district is on track for 6000kg of batteries recycled for the year to June 30.
‘‘We have a bit of friendly competition with Selwyn for the highest weight of batteries diverted from landfill,’’ she said.
If the trial is successful, drop-off centres will be rolled out to other libraries and service centres.
Visit phoenixrecycling.co.nz to see the types of batteries accepted at the collection points.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.