Recycle Batteries
WHAT
- Batteries from cordless devices
- Household Batteries (including rechargeable)
- Vehicle and Marine Batteries
- Battery power-backup devices
- Other Batteries
But NO:
We’ve never come across a battery we can’t recycle, but call ahead 231-348-0640 if you have something very unusual.
WHERE
Batteries —both household and vehicle types—are accepted at the Drop-off Center in the Hazardous Materials Recycling area.
Household batteries can also be dropped off during business hours at the following stores:
- in Petoskey at Preston Feather Building Center and Meyer Ace Hardware (both the downtown location and the one on 31 North)
- in Pellston at Cook’s Hardware
- in Harbor Springs at Meyer Ace Hardware and Preston Feather Building Center
- in Alanson at W.W. Fairbairn & Sons
Batteries are NOT accepted curbside or at the recycling drop sites.
HOW
RECALLED BATTERIES
Emmet County CANNOT recycle recalled batteries (i.e. hoverboard, Galaxy S7), but can accept them by appointment on Household Chemical Drop-off Days. Follow manufacturer instructions for their storage and transport. At a minimum, cover the terminals or connecting wires thoroughly with clear tape until you can dispose of them properly.
DAMAGED BATTERIES
Emmet County CANNOT accept damaged batteries (i.e. bloated, punctured). Our battery recycling partners, Battery Solutions offer a damaged battery shipping kit here: https://batterysolutions.com/product-category/damaged-battery-kit/.
Prevent Battery Fires
The Problem: If battery terminals come in contact with metal, they can spark or short circuit causing fires. The most common example we’ve heard is of guys putting batteries and coins in the same pocket then noticing the battery getting very hot and even burning their pants. Battery fires have become more common as more formulations have been developed and we have come to use them in so many tools and toys.
An Easy Solution
Tape the terminals of
- all lithium batteries,
- all batteries from electronics, and
- of batteries 9 volts or greater
with clear tape before storing or recycling batteries.
A couple of handy alternatives:
- individually bag larger batteries in clear plastic bags.
- save the packaging from batteries of types you use frequently and use it to store your dead batteries. When package is full seal it shut in such a way that the batteries can’t get loose.
Required:
- by United States Dept. of Transportation rules
- by Emmet County Recycling
- by Battery Solutions, the company which recycles your batteries into commodities for industrial and agricultural use.
- to protect your home or business!
Bottom Line: Before storing or recycling any batteries, please tape the terminals of batteries 9 volts or greater and/or from electronics.
Recycle Light Bulbs
WHAT
- LED light bulbs (technically called “lamps”)
- Fluorescent light bulbs
- CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps)
- U-shaped and circular fluorescent bulbs
- UV Lamps
- Neon Lamps
- Mercury Vapor Lamps
- High-Pressure Sodium Lamps
- HID (high intensity discharge)
- Projector Lamps
But NO:
- NO Incandescent light bulbs
- NO Halogen light bulbs
WHERE
The bulbs are accepted at the Drop-off Center in the Hazardous Materials Recycling area.
HOW
- Accepted FREE from Emmet County households, up to maximum of 10 free bulbs.
- More than 10 bulbs? You will be charged our cost to recycle those over 10. Call 231-348-0640 for current prices.
- *Fees apply for out-of-county households, businesses (including landlords), institutions, and organizations: please call 231-348-0640 for rate and packing information.
- A $3 fee will be charged for each fluorescent bulb shipping box when not secured in a container.
- Businesses, if you have more than household quantities of light bulbs, please consider working directly with our light-bulb-recycling vendor, CleanLites: call 800-778-6645.
- CAUTION: avoid breaking the bulbs. The hazardous elements inside some bulbs can escape if the bulb is broken. For example, fluorescent light bulbs are accepted for recycling because they contain mercury. Mercury is a very potent neurotoxin and environmental pollutant.
- CAUTION: Double bag broken bulbs before delivering them for recycling. Do not use a vacuum to clean up broken fluorescent bulbs as this will spread mercury vapor into the air in your space.