Battery Recycling Just Got Easier

Online form speeds up process, saves time and money

By Melanie Stewart

As you may know, the Med Center collects single use alkaline batteries for recycling.  We provide a recycled gallon container, and when it’s full, you would have filled out a chemical tag, called Chemical Safety to provide details, and they come pick it up.

I’m happy to report that this process just got a whole lot easier!

When your container is full, please use the new on-line form to request a pickup. http://app1.unmc.edu/forms/ehs/battery_pickup.cfm

Fill in the appropriate information and hit submit. It’s fast, easy, and you get confirmation that your request has been received. You no longer need to fill out the chemical collection tag. Your container will be picked up at their earliest convenience.

If you are in an area where multiple people ‘manage’ a battery container, please place a note on the lid indicating the pickup has been requested to avoid multiple requests.

If you don’t currently have a container but want to recycle batteries, check with your neighbors.  We have a lot of battery containers on campus and there might be one close by you don’t know about.  If you do need one, you can use the on-line form to request one.  Make sure your building and room are listed and mention that you do not need to have a container picked up, just an empty one delivered.

Don’t forget:

• Only single use alkaline batteries can go into these containers.
  • Rechargeable, lithium/nickel ion, watch/button batteries and light bulbs are considered universal waste and must be handled separately. Please contact Chemical Safety to dispose of these (9-4386).
• If a battery is old and appears to have acid buildup or corrosion, please place it in a small plastic bag prior to placing it in the container.
• Only batteries used at the Med Center can go in these containers.
  • Batteries from home or personal devices cannot be recycled here. You can contact your local Batteries Plus store as they may recycle them.
  • LiveGreen will be collecting personal single use alkaline batteries for recycling during Earth Week, so you can save them and bring them then. Stay tuned for more Earth Week information.

Not located at the 42^nd and Dewey campus but still want to recycle batteries?  Email LiveGreen@unmc.edu and we’ll help you.