City of Lethbridge all charged up about curbside battery collection pilot program

The City of Lethbridge is launching a new pilot program next month to collect used batteries.

The curbside battery collection program will take place Nov. 18-28.

Residents can bag old batteries and set them out for curbside pickup the same day as their green carts.

The curbside battery collection program is being run in partnership with Call2Recycle Canada.

“In 2024, we collected about seven million kilograms of batteries across the country, and so that’s a lot of batteries, but there are even more that could be recycled if people just emptied their junk drawers or their boxes at home,” Camille Vandeerstraeten with Call2Recycle Canada told media.

“We’re hoping to do even more in 2025.”

“We don’t want batteries in the landfill,” Mandi Parker, City of Lethbridge general manager of waste and recycling, told media.

“It adds to the chemical concentration of the leachate and causes problems within the landfill itself.”

In a release issued Wednesday, Parker also said batteries “can be tricky to get rid of.”

“We recognize that residents need simple and convenient disposal options to maximize diversion,” Parker said.

“We’re proud to team up with Call2Recycle and lead the charge to help residents safely and efficiently dispose of household batteries.”

The city said battery collection bags will be delivered to some households the week of Oct. 6-10.

Households that do not receive bags can pick them up at any of the three city yard waste sites, the city hall foyer, the Helen Schuler Nature Centre, any Lethbridge Public Library location or any of the six city arenas.

Store-bought, clear, resealable plastic bags will also suffice.

Residents are asked to stick tape over the batteries’ positive terminals.

“Most household and single-use batteries are accepted, including AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, coin/button cells and batteries under five kg,” the city said in the release it issued Wednesday.

“Rechargeables, NiCad, NiMH, lithium-ion, car batteries, battery packs and industrial batteries are not accepted.”

The city is suggesting residents place the bags on top of their green carts.

The city said not to place them inside the green carts.

More information can be found on the city’s website.

More information about Call2Recycle Canada can be found on its website.