Where can batteries be recycled in Portland? (5 ways to store batteries at home) 

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This article will answer the question of where batteries can be recycled in Portland. Other covered aspects would include:

  • Can batteries be recycled?
  • How can batteries be disposed of?
  • How do you make sure that batteries are run out?
  • Are batteries biodegradable?
  • Is it safe to keep batteries at home?
  • FAQs

Where can batteries be recycled in Portland?

Batteries can be recycled in Portland by either transporting them to the nearest collection centres or by scheduling a collection with the recycling authorities. The article will give some locations that users can consider. 

Batteries are non-biodegradable substances that are made of certain harmful substances that can leak out into the environment. 

Recycling can be explained as the process of reusing a certain product after making slight changes and modifications to it. In this way, when products are recycled, they are not needed to be made from scratch. 

Further, it is advised to keep batteries in your home because the contents inside the battery may leak out and can cause harm to human health and life in general. 

Can batteries be recycled?

The main target question of the article/blog will be to uncover what is the recycling status of batteries. Based on it, further stances can be built.

As regards the primary question, it is possible to recycle batteries? In fact, it is regarded that recycling batteries is one of the best disposal methods available to ensure that the environment is not affected greatly. 

There are several types of batteries that are there in the consumer world. Each type is made of different materials and has a unique chemistry and biology to it. These types are: 

  • Lithium batteries
  • Alkaline batteries
  • Carbon zinc batteries
  • Silver oxide batteries 
  • Zinc-air batteries

However, it must be mentioned that lithium batteries are the most common. The phone or laptop that you are reading this article from is probably made from lithium batteries. 

Alkaline batteries are also the most common type of batteries because of their economical value and easy disposal options. 

Recycling can be explained as the process of reusing a certain product or product after making slight changes and modifications to it. In this way, when products are recycled, they are not needed to be made from scratch. 

This puts decreased pressure on the sources and raw materials. Also, there is a decreased consumption of energy (non-renewable energy obtained from fossil fuels) and better financial prospects. 

In general, the various advantages that can be achieved by the recycling of batteries may include: 

  • Recycling batteries  leads to better waste management 
  • Recycling batteries leads to better resource management
  • Recycling batteries leads to improved employment opportunities
  • Recycling batteries leads to decreased use of resources
  • Recycling batteries leads to decreased GHG emissions and greenhouse effect
  • Recycling batteries leads to economic benefits to the consumers and the producers
  • Recycling is regarded as one of the best solutions to deal with non-biodegradable waste such as batteries

What are the locations where batteries can be recycled in Portland?

Since we have established that it is possible to recycle batteries. Let us explore some of the locations where you can drop your dead batteries to have them recycled. These are: 

  • Advance Auto Parts, 4315 Interstate Ave 
  • Advance Auto Parts, 727 SE 122nd Ave 
  • Advance Auto Parts 7636 NE Sandy Blvd 
  • Advance Auto Parts, 4909 SE Powell Blvd 
  • Walmart, 4200 SE 82ND Ave 
  • Walmart, 1123 Hayden Meadows Drive 
  • Sears Auto Centre, 9800 SW Washington Square Road 

Since batteries may leak out in trash cans which can damage the other contents, it is not advisable to dump them in recycle cans, let alone open dumps. The best thing you can do, in Portland, is to transport old batteries to these locations to have them recycled and increase the numbers of batteries recycled. 

How can batteries be disposed of safely?

One important question that is usually asked by the consumers is what are the safe disposal methods when it comes to batteries. We know that it is possible to recycle batteries, but how should batteries be transported to recycling centres? 

Also, there is this question: is it safe to put batteries in the recycle bins? As we know there are three types of bins:

  • Red-coloured bins
  • Green-coloured bins
  • Blue-coloured bins 

We have green dustbins that are intended for non-biodegradable, but recyclable waste. We have known that batteries are indeed recyclable, but the main question still remains. Is it safe to throw batteries in green dustbins?

The answer is no. It is not safe. The reason behind this is that batteries contain toxic and harmful substances that may leach out. When they do, they will cause harm and have implications on life and the environment. 

These harms may include affecting aquatic life, degrading soil quality, and toxifying the surrounding environment. It will also lead to the pollution of the nearby waste. 

Therefore, it is not advised to throw batteries in recycle bins. Rather, you must either transport them to the nearest recycling centres or you can schedule a collection by contacting the recycling authorities either by phone or email. 

In this way, you can ensure that disposed batteries are not causing any harm to the environment or life. 

How to store batteries at home? (5 ways)

Owing to the contents of the battery, it is not advised to keep batteries in your home. If you are certain that your battery is used to capacity, then it is better to rush to its disposal and recycling. 

This is primarily because the contents inside the battery may leak out and can cause harm to human health and life in general. Also, there will be repercussions on the environment as well. 

For example, some of the materials that are found in the batteries may cause skin and eye irritations. Some are of extreme severity. For example, toxic metals such as cadmium and nickel (used in batteries) are known carcinogens. 

However, if you must keep batteries in your home for any reason, there are certain steps and considerations that you need to follow to ensure that your life, health, and the environment is not put at any risk. These are:

  • If batteries start to leak, you may store them individually in transparent plastic bags
  • You must not store batteries in metal containers
  • You should avoid short circuits between batteries by ensuring that the battery cover is not damaged in any way
  • Batteries must be kept in non-metal boxes 
  • You should store empty and semi-used batteries separately 

How do you make sure that the battery is run out?

One important question and consideration that needs to be factored in is how can one ensure that the batteries he is about to dispose of are of no functional value. 

This question is in line with the 3R approach that is so much treasured by environmentalists. The 3R philosophy preaches three practices: 

  • Reducing 
  • Reusing 
  • Recycling

Recycling is the last option and must be considered when the first two have been exhausted. First of all, it befalls each and every one of us to be vigilant and considerate of his consumption and use. We should not be exploitative in our uses because that is exactly what sustainability is. 

As per the principle of sustainability, one must use the present in a way that his future use is not affected in any way. 

This is the main idea of reducing. You may wonder if it is practical. Yes, it is very practical. This is exactly what is preached by the teachings and sermons of Environmental Psychology. 

As per the EP approach, one individual change can inspire others and therefore, small changes can add up to become significant changes. 

The next concept is the idea of reusing batteries. This is also applicable. If you have a battery and you think it has run out of its functional value, there are certain steps that can be taken by you to ensure that your assumption is true. These steps include: 

  • Removing the battery and then placing it again
  • Using batteries for less energy consumptive processes 
  • If you have a rechargeable battery then you must ensure that you charge it in complete cycles and not randomly 
  • Maintaining the required outside temperature will also prolong the battery life 

Are batteries biodegradable?

One important and related question to the recycling of batteries is whether batteries are biodegradable or not. To determine that, let us consider what most of the batteries are made of.

Most of the batteries are made from some common materials that include:

  • Plastic 
  • Metal 
  • Sulphuric acid 
  • Zinc
  • Graphite 
  • Manganese 
  • Potassium 

Biodegradation is the process of breakdown of waste into simple materials by the action of microbes. Because microbes are involved, the process has the word ‘bio’ in it. Bio means life. 

Most people confuse the two terms (biodegradation and degradation). There is a subtle yet blunt difference between the two. 

Degradation is the breakdown that may be caused by chemicals. For example, plastic may degrade into microplastics by the action of sunlight or heat. This is called degradation

However, when animal bodies are decomposed, microbes are in action. They devour the nutrition present in the body and there are no remains left as such apart from bones. This is called biodegradation. 

Regarding biodegradability, there is a general rule of thumb that non-natural materials are not biodegradable. Since batteries are mostly made from non-biodegradable materials, it can be concluded that batteries are not biodegradable. 

The next is the time taken for batteries to decompose. This may vary but since batteries are made from non-biodegradable materials, batteries may require many years to degrade. 

For example, one component of batteries is plastic. Plastic is a non-biodegradable material and may degrade in 200-1000 years based on external factors and the type of plastic. 

Conclusion 

It is concluded that batteries can be recycled in Portland by either transporting them to the nearest collection centres or by scheduling a collection with the recycling authorities. 

Batteries are non-biodegradable substances that are made of certain harmful substances that can leak out into the environment. 

Recycling can be explained as the process of reusing certain products after making slight changes and modifications to them. In this way, when products are recycled, they are not needed to be made from scratch. 

This puts decreased pressure on the sources and raw materials. Also, there is a decreased consumption. 

Further, it is advised to keep batteries in your home because the contents inside the battery may leak out and can cause harm to human health and life in general. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Where can batteries be recycled in Portland?

Can you discard batteries in recycling bins?

No, batteries must not be discarded in recycling bins because the contents of the battery may leak out. This can contaminate other materials and the recycling facility as well. Further, workers are also put at risk in this way. 

Are batteries biodegradable?

No, batteries are regarded as non-biodegradable because batteries are made from non-biodegradable materials such as plastic and metals. 

References

  • Sobianowska-Turek, A., Urbańska, W., Janicka, A., Zawiślak, M., & Matla, J. (2021). The Necessity of Recycling of Waste Li-Ion Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles as Objects Posing a Threat to Human Health and the Environment. Recycling, 6(2), 35.
  • Zheng, X., Zhu, Z., Lin, X., Zhang, Y., He, Y., Cao, H., & Sun, Z. (2018). A mini-review on metal recycling from spent lithium ion batteries. Engineering, 4(3), 361-370.
  • Kang, D. H. P., Chen, M., & Ogunseitan, O. A. (2013). Potential environmental and human health impacts of rechargeable lithium batteries in electronic waste. Environmental science & technology, 47(10), 5495-5503.

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