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SWAN Message Board for Battery Information
In addition to the information listed on
this page, check the SWAN
Message Board for information from Villages about battery
recycling and backhaul.
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Intro
In February 2001, photos were taken from
a battery recycling workshop given by the Battery Specialists
in Anchorage. Follow along to find out how to recycle your
batteries.
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| Safe Handling and Storage
Batteries should be handled with protective
gear. Rubber gloves, polyester clothes and protective eyewear
are highly recommended. Click
here for information about where to purchase safety gear.
Batteries should be stored off-the-ground
and covered. Try a shed, shipping container, or fish tote.
If batteries are exposed to sun, rain, or cold temperatures,
they may crack and leak acid and heavy metals. Make
sure contaminants from leaking batteries cannot enter the
soil or nearby water.
Click here
for further information about how to safely store batteries
and other hazardous wastes.
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|  Arrange Shipping
Arrange to ship the batteries through your
local air or barge lines to a battery recycler in Anchorage,
or your nearest hub city. Ask the shipper to backhaul your
batteries free-of-charge. See if the battery recycler will
pick up the batteries at the port or airport for no charge.
Some battery recyclers are listed on the other side, or look
up auto supplies and parts in your phone book. If you have
trouble getting free shipping, call Joe Sarcone, EPA
at 271-1316. Also, we heard from SE folks that AML
in particular will take the batteries free of charge (for
a non-profit organization) as long as they are ready for transport.
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| Stack Batteries for
Barge Shipping
Shipping requirements and regulations depend
on whether the batteries will be flown or barged out.
For shipping on a barge only:
Place one layer of batteries  on a wooden palette and cover
with at least 2, but preferably 3, sheets of waffle board
(also called honeycomb). It is preferable to use waffle board,
but 6-10 layers of stacked cardboard (totaling 6 inches high)
can be used as an alternative. Stack only 1 more layer of
batteries – both layers should contain approximately
18-24 batteries. The top layer is best for batteries of odd
size.
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| Shrink-Wrap Batteries
 Next,
wrap the battery stacks well with shrink wrap.
To make sure the batteries are covered
well, wrap around the top and side of the stack several times.
See ‘where to purchase materials’ for information
on where to get the materials.
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|  Secure
Battery Stack
To secure the shrink-wrapped batteries,
run strapping tape fully around the palette on the side and
over the top. A fastening tool like the one in this picture
is very useful.
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| Fish Totes
 The
rule for shipping batteries is two liners. The casing for
batteries that aren’t cracked is one liner. The shipping
container provides the second liner.
For shipping batteries by plane or
barge: A fish tote with no cracks or holes makes a great
container. Once a tote is used for batteries, mark it well
so it won't ever be used to hold edible items.
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|  Make Your Own Container!
You
can also make your own container for plane or barge shipping.
This shipping box was made from wood scraps.
The bottom and sides of the box must be lined with a single
sheet of visqueen or plastic tarp and stapled down. Cardboard
padding around the inside of the box is a good idea.
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| Label Batteries &
Fill Out Shipping Papers
Finally, stick a “Corrosive”
shipping label on the container. Labels can be ordered from
the battery recyclers listed above. If you call Frank at Battery
Specialists in Anchorage, he can send some to you for free.
Also, you must fill out shipping papers.
The shipper can provide you with the form and may help you
fill it out. The information you need is:
Shipping name:
“Batteries, wet, filled with acid”
Hazard Class or Division:
8
UN or ID No.:
2794
Packing Group:
III
Weight:
Car/truck batteries weigh 21 lbs, and Honda/snowmachine batteries
weigh
12 lbs. A full battery pallet will weigh between 2,500 lbs
and 3,000 lbs.
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| Damaged Batteries
Batteries that are damaged (leaking, missing
caps, or cracked) must be shipped in their own sealed container
– like a sturdy plastic bag.
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| How to Contact Lead-Acid
Battery Recyclers
Anchorage:
Battery Specialists of Alaska, 276-5251
NAPA Auto Parts, 563-3637
Excide Batteries, 344-1390
Bethel:
NAPA Auto Parts 543-2673
Fairbanks:
ABS Alaska Battery Recycling, 452-2002
Jackovich Industrial & Construction Supply, 456-4900
Dillingham:
NAPA Auto Parts 842-4200
Seattle:
Allied Batteries, (206) 762-5522
Dyno Battery, (206) 283-7450
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| Where to Purchase Materials
The following materials can be purchased
at the stores listed below:
Plastic wrap
(called shrink wrap) is ordered by the case and contains 4
rolls. A case costs approximately $75.
Banding kit
– A banding kit has everything you need to secure the
batteries and plastic wrap. A kit costs approximately $500.
Strapping tape, buckles or clips and a tension tool for the
strapping can also be purchased separately.
Waffle (honeycomb) cardboard
may be purchased from many of the battery recyclers listed
to the left. This type of cardboard may cost $3 to $4 a sheet.
Visqueen
is plastic sheeting that can be used to line battery shipping
containers.
Hoffmans Strapping & Fastening
522-1505
Alaska Industrial Hardware
276-7201
Alaska Warehouse Supply
1 (800) 770-3842
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| Battery
Resources on the Web
EPA Battery Recycling website www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/battery.htm
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation
(RBRC) website
www.rbrc.com/index.html
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