UM-Flint Helps Keep Hazardous Waste Out of Landfills

More than 3 billion dry-cell batteries are purchased by Americans every year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Unfortunately, many of the batteries will end up in landfills and can leach chemicals and heavy metals into soil, groundwater, lakes, and streams.

To help keep the batteries out of landfills, the University of Michigan-Flint Department of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) and the student organization, F.U.E.L (Future-minded University students for Environmentally conscience Living) partnered with the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission (GCMPC) to host the first Battery Recycle Challenge on the UM-Flint campus.

Collection bins were placed in 16 locations around campus. In just two weeks, over 325 pounds of used household batteries were collected. The batteries were disposed of at the recently-held Genesee County Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Waste Collection Day. Because of the success of the battery collection, plans are already in progress for future battery recycle challenges.

For more information about recycling batteries and what you can do to keep hazardous materials out of the environment, contact EHS at 810-766-6763 or [email protected].