Battery Collection in Action Case Study: Leading the Charge: Marion County's Battery Collection and Recycling Program
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Introduction
Marion County, Oregon has long prioritized waste management, with its battery collection program exemplifying commitment to recycling. Prompted by the need to divert batteries away from waste-to-energy facilities and out of the waste stream, Marion County's battery collection and recycling program has now been in place for over two decades. Batteries, particularly damaged lithium ones, pose fire risks under high heat or pressure, endangering workers and equipment. By integrating battery collection into existing curbside recycling services, Marion County has fostered a culture of environmental stewardship throughout the community.
According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Marion County—located in northwestern Oregon—is home to approximately 345,000 residents across 20 municipalities. Salem, the largest city, serves as both the state capital and urban center. The surrounding areas are a mix of suburban and rural communities. As of 2024, about 17 percent of the county's population is aged 65 or older, with a median household income of $73,417; 14.3 percent of residents live below the poverty line. Marion County's established waste management infrastructure and moderate population density lends itself well to supporting a curbside collection system for batteries, particularly in its suburban neighborhoods, along with retail and transfer station drop-off locations throughout the county.
Program Design and Implementation
Marion County supports its battery collection program with strong public outreach and clear instructions, making it easy for residents to participate. The program offers a safe, convenient, and environmentally responsible way to dispose of household batteries. Implementation involves multiple partners doing work that includes:
- Waste haulers from the Mid-Valley Garbage and Recycling Association manage collection.
- The Marion County Juvenile Department assists with battery consolidation at transfer stations.
- Garten Services handles sorting and packaging for shipment.
- Cirba Solutions oversees final transportation and processing.
How It Works
Curbside battery collection is available for free in certain municipalities across Marion County, depending on local franchise agreements. Marion County also provides drop-off locations across the county through a partnership with Garten Services. Most batteries are collected through the curbside collection program or at transfer stations, with retail drop-offs accounting for only a small share.
Residents can place properly packaged batteries in sealed, labeled plastic bags and leave them in or on their curbside recycling bins for pickup on a regular schedule. The waste haulers have a truck for special recycling bin pickup. They place batteries in red bins on the back of the truck during the route and unload them at the end of each day. The program accepts the following battery types:
- AAA to D size consumer batteries.
- 9-volt batteries.
- Large "lantern" batteries (6-volt to 9-volt).
- Button batteries.
- Rechargeable batteries and battery packs (nickel-cadmium, nickel metal hydride, or lithium-ion).
To prevent short-circuiting and reduce fire risk, residents must cover both terminals of specific battery types—such as lithium metal, lithium-ion, button cell, and batteries that are 9-volt or larger—with clear tape before collection. Residents do not need to tape alkaline batteries (e.g., AA, AAA), but the curbside battery collection program encourages residents to tape the terminals if they are unsure. The program does not cover car batteries and other lead-acid batteries; a separate program manages these types of batteries at transfer stations.
Waste haulers bring curbside-collected batteries to local transfer stations, where the Marion County Juvenile Department assists with consolidation. Once transfer station staffers place the batteries into drums and prepare them for transport, they ship them to Garten Services. Garten Services is responsible for filtering and sorting the batteries, as well as making sure they appropriately package any lithium batteries. Garten Services ships the batteries to Cirba Solutions for final processing.
What Works Well
Marion County, in collaboration with local waste haulers, conducts public education through media outreach and community events. Representatives from the Mid-Valley Garbage and Recycling Association attend county fairs and Earth Day events to explain what materials the program accepts in recycling bins. Residents can also download the Mid-Valley Curbside Collection app to check the collection schedule and access recycling instructions. This consistent engagement has led to a well-informed public, which is a major contributing factor to the program's success. Residents understand how and where to properly dispose of batteries, and many actively reach out with questions, demonstrating strong community awareness and support.
A key strength of the program is its comprehensive approach to battery types. Unlike jurisdictions that only accept lithium batteries, Marion County accepts all household batteries, removing the burden from residents to differentiate types, which can lead to improper disposal and increased fire risks. This adaptability addresses emerging issues like musical birthday cards, which contain hidden batteries that may be overlooked as hazardous.
Operational safeguards are built into the program. Marion County addresses the logistical challenges of storage by balancing risk tolerance and safety protocols. Most of the consolidation risk falls to the haulers, but proper sorting and packaging reduce safety issues. Additionally, on-site attendants monitor fire risks, and current storage practices include the use of fire-resistant metal containers at collection sites. Garten Services provides pickups on a regular schedule, which prevents the accumulation of batteries and prolonged storage at transfer stations. Garten Services sorts, packages, and transports the batteries for final processing at Cirba Solutions. Shipments to Cirba Solutions occur every four to six months, depending on volume. This timely and organized flow ensures that batteries are safely consolidated, minimizing the risks associated with long-term storage and handling.
Challenges Encountered
Over time, the types of batteries Marion County receives have evolved. While household batteries collected curbside remain prevalent and alkaline batteries still make up the bulk of collected batteries, there has been an increase in mid-format lithium batteries like those from electric bikes. The program accommodates mid-format lithium batteries at various drop-off locations; however, it has not yet addressed large-format batteries such as electric vehicle batteries or battery energy storage systems.
A significant challenge is the handling of damaged lithium batteries, as these require specialized management methods. Residents often identify damaged batteries and call the County about them. In these cases, Marion County typically suggests that residents order damaged battery kits through Call2Recycle.org. However, these kits are costly, making them less accessible. Accessible options for residents to safely manage damaged batteries remain limited overall.
Financing
Marion County funds the battery collection program with an annual budget of approximately $100,000. The most significant expense is final battery processing (individual shipments can cost up to $25,000). Given that Marion County absorbs a large portion of the program costs, securing consistent funding for the program's ongoing contracts is essential for maintaining uninterrupted service. Long-term success depends on keeping county commissioners and policymakers well informed of the program's measurable benefits. This helps ensure sustained support for the program.
Evaluation Metrics
Marion County's battery collection program is well-established, with strong resident participation and high compliance. To evaluate performance, Marion County reports the total gross weight of materials collected in its annual recycling report. Each shipment sent to the final processor, Cirba Solutions, includes a detailed breakdown of battery types collected. Marion County estimates that approximately 90 percent of the batteries collected are alkaline, with the remaining 10 percent consisting of lithium-ion and other rechargeable batteries. The number of batteries collected has leveled off in the past five years. In 2024, the program collected a total of 49.94 tons of batteries.
Insights and Next Steps
- Education and outreach are key to the battery collection program's success. Targeted outreach efforts through social media and community events, combined with access to informational resources, help residents understand what types of batteries the program accepts, how to safely store and transport them, and where to drop them off. This clarity reduces contamination in the recycling stream, increases program participation, and streamlines collection operations. Marion County will continue to engage in local events and conduct public outreach to increase awareness of the program.
- Adapting to emerging issues such as embedded batteries is critical as battery types and use evolve. Marion County remains responsive by maintaining flexible contracts that enable the program to accept these types of batteries. This is important particularly for meeting the challenge of lithium-ion batteries, which pose a fire risk when damaged. The cost of managing damaged batteries remains a barrier. Residents can order recycling kits for damaged batteries from manufacturers or recycling providers, but these are expensive and not always practical for wide-scale public use.
- Interest from other counties is growing. The success and adaptability of Marion County's battery collection program have encouraged other local governments to explore a similar approach. Several counties have reached out seeking guidance and best practices for how to launch their own battery collection programs, reflecting the need for and value of this model.