Reception
All sizes of discarded batteries can be brought to the stores for recycling. Smaller batteries are often collected unsupervised at battery collections, while larger batteries should always be collected under supervision so that their condition can be assessed at the time of return.
Batteries sent for recycling are often at the end of their life cycle and their history is unknown, so they should be handled with care. When accepting batteries for recycling, visually inspect the condition of the battery. The aim of the inspection is to identify batteries that are damaged and separate them from other batteries. Also check that the battery terminals are taped and tape them yourself if necessary.
Storage
Always follow the instructions for storing and packing recyclable batteries. If necessary, ask your representative for more information.
Under no circumstances should lithium-ion batteries be placed with lead-acid batteries for recycling or loose in the collection of electronic equipment. A lithium-ion battery mixed with the wrong waste poses a serious risk as, and if damaged during waste treatment, it can come back to life as a “zombie battery” and even catch fire and explode. Read more about zombie batteries: www.zombiakku.fi.
Try to minimise the number of batteries stored for recycling. Order a pick-up as soon as the minimum number for pick-up is reached.
Under no circumstances should you take batteries for recycling for your own use or give them to friends, as it is not safe to use them!
Instructions to customers
If a customer asks for instructions on how to handle a recyclable battery at home, ask what size the battery is. If your business accepts batteries of the size mentioned, ask them to deliver the battery to you for recycling. If you do not accept the type of battery in question, advise contacting the place where you purchased the battery or find the nearest regional collection point: www.kierrätys.info.
Recser Oy, the producer association organising battery recycling in Finland, is responsible for recycling batteries and portable batteries.
