JOINT NEWS RELEASE
COUNTY OF SIMCOE/CITY OF BARRIE
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Curbside battery collection is back in Simcoe County and the City of Barrie as collection crews hit curbs Nov. 4-8, 2019 to roundup dead batteries from households across the region.
The County of Simcoe and City of Barrie are once again partnering to create greater operational efficiencies and grow regional participation. In fact, the County collected over 25.7 tonnes of batteries in 2018. Combined with the City of Barrie’s totals of 6.9 tonnes, residents across the region continue to show strong participation and leadership in their recycling habits.
This program is vital to protecting the environment by keeping batteries, which contain harmful substances, out of the garbage and landfills. Some batteries may also pose health and safety risks due to leaking or the potential for fire and explosion.
Disposable battery bags, with instructions, were mailed to households in September. Battery bags are also available at County of Simcoe and City of Barrie Waste Management facilities or local municipal/city offices. Batteries can also be placed in clear, sealed bags.
Battery bags must be placed curbside in a visible location beside (not inside) the recycling box on residents’ regularly scheduled collection day, during the week of Nov. 4-8.
Note from the County of Simcoe: Although the County has been experiencing delays to recycling collection, it does not anticipate any additional impact as a result of this program, as battery collection does not require any additional resources or vehicles.
The program is for single use batteries only, including type AAA, AA, A, C, D, 9 volt and button batteries commonly used for hearing aids and watches. Rechargeable batteries, cell phone and lap top batteries, car, industrial and battery packs are NOT accepted in the program, but may be taken to any County of Simcoe or City of Barrie household hazardous waste facility for safe, free disposal.
Collected batteries are consolidated and sent for processing to an Ontario company that separates the various components of the batteries, with approximately 90 per cent of the battery components being recycled.
For more information about the single use battery collection week, please contact County of Simcoe Customer Service at 705-735-6901 or visit simcoe.ca. City of Barrie residents can visit barrie.ca/CurbsideCollection or call 705-739-4219.
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