Battery collections

Why are you collecting batteries?

Whilst batteries may be a small part of your waste stream, they contain heavy metals, such as mercury, which can leak and pollute the environment if not disposed of correctly. To prevent batteries from going to landfill, you will be given a small plastic envelope to help you recycle them.

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How will a kerbside collection of household batteries work?

All households in the Borough will be provided with a small plastic envelope in September 2009. Once your batteries run out place them into the envelope and, when it is full, place the envelope on the lid of your recycling bin or beside your blue recycling sacks on your scheduled collection day.

Please ensure that the batteries are fully `spent' before placing into the envelope by testing them in a torch or other product. It is also important to make sure that the bag is properly sealed before placing it out for collection. Although the envelope may take you a while to fill, please keep it in a safe place, ready to put your batteries in - they really are very harmful for the environment if sent to landfill.

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What type of batteries can I put in the plastic envelope?

Batteries suitable for recycling in the envelope are alkaline dry-cell (either single-use or rechargeable):

D AAA

C 9V

AA Button

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What type of batteries cannot be put in the plastic envelope?

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept the following as part of the kerbside collection of household batteries:

  • laptop batteries
  • car batteries
  • hearing aid batteries
  • mobile phone batteries.

Please note: these items will not be collected, please take them to your local Community Recycling Centre.

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What will happen to the batteries?

The batteries will be put into a separate container on the refuse collection vehicle and transported to Surrey County Council's Waste Transfer Station in Leatherhead, which is managed by Surrey Waste Management. From here the batteries are sent to a specialist recycling plant in the West Midlands, where they are sorted into their various types prior to recycling into new batteries or use in the steel industry.

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Can I put batteries into a different container?

No. The plastic envelope is designed to safely contain your batteries. The envelope is clear, so the collection crew can avoid collecting any unauthorised batteries. Market research undertaken by WRAP also shows the preferred container for the disposal of batteries to be a small plastic envelope, of the type issued to residents by the Council.

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I live in a flat development and share recycling bins with my neighbours, can I still recycle batteries?

Yes. Once your envelope is full, please ensure it is completely sealed by removing the tab at the top. This will prevent batteries from escaping from the envelope. Your filled envelope should then be placed on or by the recycling bins the day prior to your recycling collection. Please double check your recycling collection schedule before placing your envelope by the bin for collection.

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Can I have another envelope?

When you have filled your plastic envelope and would like a replacement, please visit one of the following locations;

  • Woking Borough Council Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking

  • Biffa Waste Services, Monument Way Depot

  • Parkview Centre for the Community, Blackmore Crescent, Sheerwater

  • St Mary's Centre for the Community, Byfleet (off Rectory Lane)

  • Moorcroft Centre for the Community, Westfield Road

  • The Vyne Centre for the Community, Redding Way, Knaphill.

  • Woking Leisure Centre and Pool in the Park, Kingfield Road, Woking.

  • Woking Library, Gloucester Walk, Woking.

All replacements are issued free of charge.