You may have some old phones, laptops, and other rechargeable devices containing lithium-ion batteries that you’re wondering what to do with.
Consumer devices contribute to the world’s fastest-growing waste stream. Americans spend trillions on electronics and discard hundreds of millions of devices every year. Very few devices are recycled responsibly, so households who do recycle make a significant positive impact.
The Pilot Knob Rotary Club in Denton is hosting a lithium-ion battery recycling drive on April 22, Earth Day, from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., at various locations throughout the county. And if you’re up for even more fun, we’re also working with the Denton Noon Rotary Club to have a central drop-off at the Denton County Fairgrounds during their Craft Beer Festival from 4 to 9 p.m. to partially benefit Shiloh Field, the largest community garden in the U.S., which supplies fresh fruits and vegetables to the hungry. The Fairgrounds are the drop-off site for larger lithium-ion battery devices, whereas the other collection points are for individual batteries and smaller devices. The Fairgrounds are right behind Kroger at Carroll Blvd. and University (2217 N. Carroll Blvd., Denton, TX 76201).
We’re working with Redwood Materials, a lithium-ion battery recycler in Nevada. Their CEO is J.B. Straubel, former chief technology officer and co-founder of Tesla, who is passionate about protecting the environment and reducing the environmental impact that comes from mining materials used in electric vehicles and consumer devices.
Whether a laptop or an electric vehicle, lithium-ion batteries source the same elements on the periodic table. What’s perhaps even more incredible is that these metals can be recycled almost infinitely. Metal atoms don’t change or degrade, and so old devices can become new EVs without any trade-offs to performance or battery life. Redwood can recover over 95% of the critical minerals and rare-earth elements from these batteries.
Redwood’s goal is to make consumer recycling frictionless and free so that the public can responsibly recycle and maximize overall sustainability of all products. Rotary Clubs are working all over the U.S. to educate and facilitate lithium-ion battery recycling.
Please note that we’re only after lithium-ion batteries and rechargeable devices. Redwood Materials will recycle them free of charge! Please don’t bring your alkaline batteries.
We’d love to meet you at the Fairgrounds from 1 to 8 p.m. or other drop-off locations from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on April 22.
Need more information? Contact Mike Weaver at 940-391-9614 or [email protected]. Visit the Pilot Knob Rotary Club in Denton’s website, www.pilotknobrotary.com, for additional information and location of the battery recycling locations in addition to the Denton County Fairgrounds.