The Department of Environment Health has jump started its battery recycling efforts, expecting to ship 14 containers with more than 17,500 used batteries by the end of the month.
Destined for a recycling company in Florida, the automobile and marine batteries were collected from local garages through the DEH Recycling Programme, according to a GIS press release.
Chief Environmental Health Officer Roydell Carter explained that DEH regularly ships batteries off island, but delays occurred over the past eight months due to its regular receiver, Gulf Coast Recycling of Tampa, being too busy to receive any new shipments.
‘We investigated alternative recycling receivers in the US, but determined they would be too expensive, and chose instead to store the batteries in our recycling area at the landfill while looking for better markets.
‘Fortunately, our regular receiver was able to take them again. I am very pleased that this programme has resumed,’ he said.
Battery-recycling costs are shared between Gulf Coast Recycling, which purchases them at a per-unit rate, and DEH, which covers the cost of handling and shipping to Tampa.
At the George Town landfill’s recycling area, Solid Waste Technician Rohan Lawrence said each container held between 35 palettes and 39 palettes with 1,146 to 1,406 single batteries.
Acting recycling Foreman Angello Roye said that ‘since the end of May, DEH have sent four containers off island with a total of 5,000 batteries. Another six containers with 7,500 batteries will be shipped by the third week in June. By the end of the month we will send the remaining four containers with 5,000 more batteries.’
DEH reminds the public that used oil and batteries for recycling can be delivered to the George Town landfill recycling area Monday to Friday from 7am to 3pm while an attendant is on duty.
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