Consumers Lack Awareness on Safe Disposal and Recycling Practices, Raising Urgency for Education
Ahead of America Recycles Day (Nov. 15), Cirba Solutions, a North Carolina-based battery recycler, released a report revealing significant gaps in consumer knowledge about lithium battery recycling. The survey highlights public confusion over proper disposal methods, emphasizing the urgent need for education as the U.S. moves toward sustainable energy systems.
Major Findings: Widespread Lack of Knowledge on Battery Recycling
The survey found that 53% of American consumers are unaware of how to recycle lithium batteries correctly. Additionally, 41% don’t recognize the dangers of improper disposal. Despite the common use of lithium-ion batteries in devices like smartphones and electric vehicles (EVs), improper disposal poses risks such as fires and toxic leaks.
While the average American owns nine lithium-powered devices, 55% don’t know where to recycle these batteries. Moreover, 37% aren’t aware that they can be recycled at all. Even among those who know batteries shouldn’t go in the trash, 45% still dispose of them incorrectly due to a lack of accessible recycling information.
Environmental and Safety Risks of Improper Disposal
Lithium-ion batteries contain valuable materials like cobalt, nickel, and lithium, which can be reused through recycling. Improper disposal in landfills, however, poses significant environmental and safety risks. Cirba Solutions stresses the need for public education to encourage responsible recycling. This will help preserve resources and minimize contamination and safety hazards.
EV Battery Recycling: Parallel Issues with Consumer Education
The survey also highlighted issues within the electric vehicle (EV) market. While 12% of respondents drive an EV and 37% plan to buy one in the next 1-3 years, many are still unaware of how to recycle EV batteries. Nearly 59% don’t know how to recycle their EV batteries, and 47% are unsure of the battery’s lifespan or when to replace it.
As EV adoption grows, Cirba Solutions stresses the need for better educational outreach. Addressing these gaps now is critical to preventing future environmental and safety risks.
Cirba Solutions’ Educational Initiatives and Community Engagement
To address these knowledge gaps, Cirba Solutions launched the SustainABILITY 10,000 initiative. This program aims to provide 10,000 hours of battery recycling education across North America. The goal is to raise awareness and give consumers the information they need to dispose of batteries safely.
“Through our community engagement efforts, we hope to bridge the information gap and empower consumers to recycle their batteries responsibly,” said Karen Gay, Manager of Community Engagement at Cirba Solutions.
Survey Details
The survey, conducted by Kickstand from July 24-28, 2024, polled 601 American consumers with a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of ±4%. The results underscore the need for educational efforts to promote safe recycling practices, especially as lithium-ion battery and EV use continues to grow.
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