WasteMINZ is encouraging households to count their batteries for the Great Battery Hunt, a nationwide household survey to uncover how many small batteries are tucked away in corners of our homes – in remotes, toys, toothbrushes, clocks and home gadgets - and to transform that awareness into safer disposal practices and better systems across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Great Battery Hunt results will feed into the Small Battery Environmental Scan project being carried out by WasteMINZ. The scan aims to document challenges across the lifecycle of small batteries - from manufacture, to use, to end-of-life and disposal - and identify the gaps and risks in current systems.
WasteMINZ chief executive Nic Quilty says there has never been a widespread survey to understand how many small batteries are hiding in New Zealand households. WasteMINZ wants to map how common these batteries really are, and raise awareness of how frequently they are used in everyday life.
“Many homes are filled with small batteries, often forgotten in everyday items,” Nic says.
“I think many people will be surprised by the sheer number hidden away in their homes.
“Every battery in homes across New Zealand tells part of a much bigger story. By counting what we have, we start to build a better picture of the prevalence of batteries in our lives.
“It’s also a good reminder that every single battery in your house needs to be correctly disposed of the end of their life - not thrown in the bin.”
Incorrect disposal of batteries isn’t just an environmental issue - it’s a safety issue. When batteries are thrown in with regular household waste or recycling bins, they can start fires in waste trucks or recycling facilities, endangering workers and vital infrastructure.
After counting their batteries, WasteMINZ urges member of the public to drop off used and unwanted batteries at safe collection points. Information about where to safely dispose of batteries is available on the WasteMINZ website.
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