Coles has installed battery recycling bins at its stores around the country to give the batteries a second life.
The retailer is encouraging customers to bring their household batteries to one of 846 bins located at the front of its stores.
Coles General Manager of Sustainability Brooke Donnelly says batteries are one of the fastest growing waste problems in Australia, and this initiative not only helps to address the challenge, but also advances our transition to a circular economy.
“It’s estimated that Aussies have more than 150 million loose batteries in their homes but only 12% are currently being recycled,” she says.
“By adding battery collection bins out the front of our stores we’re providing a way for our customers to recycle their batteries that is safe and convenient.”
Coles has become an accredited participant of the government-backed battery recycling scheme B-cycle, and through this agreement has partnered with materials recovery companies Close the Loop and Ecobatt to manage the bins, battery collection and recycling.
B-cycle CEO Libby Chaplin says the country’s first battery stewardship scheme is pleased to welcome Coles to the program and believes it will help increase the public’s awareness around battery recycling.
“Before the scheme launched in 2021, 63% of people said they were disposing their batteries in their general waste and recycling bins,” she says.
“Thankfully that’s changing now and through our partnership with Coles, and the addition of 846 bins at the front of their stores, more customers will learn that batteries need to go to a dedicated battery drop-off point instead.”
