How to Set Up a Battery Recycling Business From Home

Americans use millions of electronics and other gadgets every year and most of these gadgets use batteries as their power source. These batteries are acidic and not biodegradable. When tossed into landfills the batteries contaminate water sources and other natural resources. Desktop and laptop computers, backup ups systems, cellular phones, compact disk players, television sets, toys, calculators, automobiles, flashlights, watches and blue tooth headsets use batteries as power sources. The Federal Government classifies batteries as hazardous materials and regulates their disposition. One way to dispose of batteries is through recycling. Setting up a home based battery recycling business is not very difficult.

Instructions

1. Register your business with your County Clerk if your county requires you to do so. This will give you a DBA (Doing Business As) Certificate so you can open a bank account and print business cards and other materials in your battery recycling business name.

2. Identify local sources for used batteries. These include churches, non-charitable organizations, social and sports membership clubs, automobile repair shops, new and used automobile dealers, cellular phones retailers, electronics retailers and junk car dealers. Notify these sources of your new business.

3. Contact Federal Government approved battery-recycling centers like Battery Solutions and Rechargeable Battery Recycling to notify them of your new business. Get information about their fees, shipping methods and the kinds of batteries they recycle. Different companies recycle various batteries including Alkaline, Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, Lithium Ion, Lithium, Mercury, Silver, Manganese, Zinc Air, Lead Acid, Zinc Carbon, Lead Acid Flooded Cell, VRLA Non Spillable Lead Acid and Zinc Carbonaire batteries. See Resources below for more information.

4. Install plastic or cardboard containers in various locations for collecting used batteries for recycling. Check them regularly and pick up batteries for recycling and fees for your services.

5. Package the batteries using approved sturdy shipping materials taking care to follow instructions from the recycling center.

6. Mail the packages to the recycling center using methods pre-approved by the recycling center. Keep your fees as your profit after deducting any expenses.

Tips & Warnings

• Batteries are hazardous to your health and should be handled with care.

• Confirm with the battery-recycling center before mailing batteries. The federal government forbids the mailing of certain kinds of batteries. Environmental Protection Agency has information on the various kinds of batteries and the best ways to handle them. See Resources below for additional information.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Battery Solutions is a large battery recyclying center.
• Step by step guide is available at Rechargeable Recycling Corporation.
• Environmental Protection Agency information on battery recycling.