Disposable battery and cell phone recycling now available
Jeff Wherley from the Coshocton County Recycling & Litter Prevention Office is pictured holding the box at the United Way Office of Coshocton County where disposable batteries and cell phones can be placed for recycling. The United Way location is just one of several recycling locations in the county for these items. Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – Disposable battery and cell phone drop-off sites are now available for the public to use throughout Coshocton County.
Program Manager Jeff Wherley from the Coshocton County Recycling & Litter Prevention Office said the sites are at no cost to use for all disposable batteries brought by the public.
“I have had requests for years for some sort of recycling program for disposable batteries, so we are very excited to offer this program,” he said.
Wherley said the program is in conjunction with the Coshocton-Fairfield-Licking-Perry Solid Waste District, and sites will be available in all four counties.
In Coshocton County, the sites include post offices in Warsaw, Coshocton and West Lafayette, the fire stations of Walhonding Valley and Coshocton and the Village Office of West Lafayette and the United Way Office of Coshocton County.
AAA, AA, D and C cell batteries may simply be placed in the boxes provided at these locations. For 9-volt and higher charge batteries, including lithium and cadmium batteries along with cell phones, residents are asked to place the batteries in a plastic bag, either from their home or in the bags provided at the drop-off sites in order to prevent the possibility of charges meeting and causing heat or fire.
Wherley stressed this program is for the public only, and that private businesses and industries should still seek their own outlets for disposable batteries if they have the need for them.
“Hopefully, though, this will show them that a program like this can work for them and be financially, as well as environmentally, beneficial,” he said.
As a reminder, rechargeable battery recycling is still available at the Coshocton and Walhonding Valley Fire Department.
Wherley said that currently this disposable battery recycling program is being funded at the district level, but he hopes to apply for funding to continue it in the future.
“I’m very hopeful this program will prove a success with proper use and high volumes of batteries which would otherwise end up in the landfills, where the toxic materials could leach out of their containers,” he said.
When boxes are full, Wherley said a phone call to his office will bring a replacement container and ensure the batteries are taken to Retriev Recycling outside of Lancaster for recycling.
Please call 740-824-5533 if you have any questions about this or any other recycling program.
Category: People & Places
