Curbside battery collection is back in Kawartha Lakes

BRANDON CLARK The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: From Monday, March 16th to Thursday, March 19th, Kawartha Lakes residents can place household batteries at the curb on their regular garbage day. Residents are urged to have it out by 7 a.m for regular collection. To get batteries ready, put them in a clear resealable bag and leave it where the collector can see it. Residents are asked not to place the bag on recycling bins.

This is also a good time to remind families to change the batteries in carbon and smoke detectors. These alarms keep people safe, which is why they must work properly.

Recycling batteries is important for several reasons. Batteries can be dangerous if they end up in the garbage. When they break down, they can release chemicals into the ground, polluting soil and water. Parts of batteries can be reused. Many batteries contain steel, which can be recycled multiple times. Every battery kept out of the garbage makes a difference. Recycling helps landfills last longer.

Not all batteries can be recycled at the curb. This includes rechargeable batteries, car batteries, and industrial batteries. These must be taken to a Household Hazardous Waste Depot at the Lindsay Ops or Fenelon Landfill Site (Fenelon site closed until May 1st). Batteries which can be recycled are button batteries and lantern batteries, in addition to A, AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V batteries.

Put all single-use batteries in a clear, resealable bag; put tape over the ends of 9V batteries and cover both sides of button batteries with tape; place the sealed bag at the curb on your regular pickup day between March 16th to 19th; do not put loose batteries in your recycling box; do not include vape pens, ink cartridges, old light bulbs, lighters, smoke detectors, or anything that is not on the accepted list. These are all ways to prepare batteries for collection.

Kawartha Lakes collects batteries at the curb twice a year, but residents can recycle them at any time at other drop-off locations in the municipality.

For further information, visit the 'Recycle Your Batteries Canada!' website and use your postal code to find a spot near you.