Battery Recycling Program - Office of Sustainability

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The expanded version of the Auburn University Battery Recycling Program began as a project of the Peers Network. After conducting sustainability assessments within their units, the Peers Ambassadors all wanted to find a more sustainable way to deal with the volume of batteries consumed during the course of university operations. It didn’t take long to develop a solution, as Risk Management & Safety (RMS) had representation within the Peers Network, the Ambassadors stepped up to lead efforts in their units, and the Office of Sustainability had staff to help with the operational piece of expanding battery collection.

The expanded Battery Recycling Program officially launched in January 2019. Every three weeks, student staff from the Office of Sustainability exchange empty bins for those with batteries. They then bring the bins back to Langdon Annex for processing — where they weigh the batteries from each building, record the weight, and then consolidate them into as few buckets as possible. The staff from the Office of Sustainability then takes the batteries to RMS’ Environmental Health & Safety Building, where the batteries collected by the Office of Sustainability are combined with those collected by RMS staff. At the RMS facility, the two units work together to sort the batteries by type and package them for shipment, and then RMS staff ships the batteries off for recycling to various vendors, depending on the battery type.

Image containing information surrounding cumulative battery recycling data. 2016: 2177lbs, 2017: 2221lbs, 2018: 3255lbs, 2019: 5618lbs, 2020: 8955lbs, 2021: 6364.5lbs, 2022: 8110.5, 2023: 14,472lbs

We encourage all Auburn University faculty, staff, and resident students to participate in the program. Below you’ll find details on accepted materials, bin locations, and who to contact with questions, concerns, or emergencies. Your active and informed participation in the program makes a noticeable difference, as the program was able to collect over 50,745 pounds of batteries since 2016!

Bin Request Form Bin Pick-Up Form

Accepted Materials

The following types of batteries may be placed in the designated battery recycling bins. The images below have been provided solely for reference, so keep in mind the battery you have may vary in appearance. For battery types not listed below, please contact Risk Management & Safety at 334-740-1267.

Regardless of battery type, batteries should NOT come in contact with any liquids. Should a fire occur call 911 and ONLY use a fire extinguisher to handle the emergency.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to costs associated with recycling, only batteries used in the course of university operations and those produced by resident students should be placed into the bins. If you would like to recycle personal batteries and live in the City of Auburn, you may do so at the RecycleAuburn center.

Alkaline

Carbon Zinc

Lead/Lead Acid

Lithium Ion

Nickel Cadmium

Nickel Metal Hydride

Bin Locations

Building	Room/Area
3D Arts Building	120J
ALFA Agricultural Building	Room 124
ALFA Agricultural Building	Room 152
ALFA Agricultural Building	Room 164
AU Administrative Complex	Lobby
AU Hotel & Dixon Conference Center	Operations Office
Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital	V0007 - Hallway by Stairs
Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital	Room 1401J
Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital	Room 1331 - Breakroom
Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital	Room 1510 - ICU Unit
Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital	Room 2141 - Copy Room
Beard-Eaves Coliseum	Room 1120 - Score Office
Beard-Eaves Coliseum	Room 1020
Beard-Eaves Coliseum	Room 2050
Biggin Hall	Room 108
Biggin-Woltosz House	Room 112A
Broun Hall	Near Loading Dock
Brown-Kopel	Room 1167
CASIC Building	Room 126
CASIC Building	Room 285
Cater Hall	Room 111
Chemistry Building	Room 179
College of Education Building	1221 Z - Copy Room
College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment Building	Recycle Area near Room 2349
College of Veterinary Medicine	OIT Office
Corley Building	Room 217
Crop Improvement Association Building	Need to Ask
Davis Hall	Room 212
Dudley Hall	Room 221
Duncan Hall	Room 234
Equine Research Lab Building	Main Room - 121
EW Shell Fisheries Center	Break Room
Extension Hall	Entryway hall
Facilities Management Building 1	Room 1170
Facilities Management Building 5	Room 110
Facilities Management Building 6	Room 101 - Stockroom
Facilities Management Building 7	Room 125
Foy Hall	2nd Floor Welcome Desk
Funchess Hall	Room 101
Funchess Hall	Room 201
Funchess Hall	330 Warner Lab
Gorrie Center	Room 118K
Greene Hall	Room 121 - Middle Hallway Next to Recycling
Greene Hall	Room 180 - By Copying Machine
Greene Hall	Room 230 - Near Recycle Bin in Hallway
Greene Hall	Room 402
Greene Hall Annex	Room 102
Greene Hall Annex	Corridor Level 1 - Near Men's Bathroom
Haley Center	Mailroom (Basement)
Haley Center	Room 3084
Haley Center	Room 7080 (Poli Sci Dept)
Haley Center	Room 6075
Haley Center	Speech and Hearing Clinic
Halliday-Cary-Pick House	Room 101
Harbert Center	Room 238
Hargis Hall	Room 201D
Hoerlein Hall	Room 304A - In Stairway
Hoerlein Hall	Room 579 - Outside
Horton Hardgrave	Room 1017
Horton Hardgrave	Room 3047
Ireland Center Laboratory	Room 101
Jay & Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center	Room 1260
Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art	Room 015A
Langdon Annex	Downstairs Hall
Langdon Hall	Registrar's Office Breakroom
Leach Science Center	Room 0173A
Leach Science Center	Room 226 - Outside
Lowder Hall	Room 016
Lowder Hall	Room 017
Lowder Hall	Room 331
National Poultry Technology Center	Need to Ask
Medical Clinic	Need to Ask
Mell Classroom Building	Information Desk
Melton Student Center	Student Media Room 1105M
Melton Student Center	Staging Area Beside Loading Dock
Miller Center: Admin & Education Building	Room 125
Miller Center: National Poultry Technology Center	Need to Ask
Nichols Center	Navy Offices
OD Smith Hall	Room 301
OIT Building	Room 126
OIT Building	Room 146
OIT Building	Room 251
OIT Building	Room 351
Paterson Storage & Refrigeration Building	Room 101B
Pebble Hill Annex	Room 105
Pharmaceutical Research Building	Room 105
Plant Science Research Center	Room 102
Poultry Science	Room 101 A
Poultry Science	Room 201
President's House - AU Events Center	Gift Wrap Room
Ramsay	Room 303
Rane	Culinary Room 114
Risk Management and Safety Building	Room 171
RBD Library	1022 Mailroom
RBD Library	First Floor Circulation Desk
RBD Library	Room 2339
Recreation & Wellness Center	Auburn Outdoors
Recreation & Wellness Center	Room 0315
Ross Hall	Room 207
Rouse Life Sciences	Room 101
Samford Hall	Room 023
Sciences Center Laboratory Building	Room 508
Scott-Ritchey Research Center	Room 119
Scott-Ritchey Research Center	Room 205
Shelby Center	Room 1301L
Shelby Center	Room 3301
Stadium Parking Deck	Access Control Offices
Sugg Laboratory	Room 128
Sunny Slope	Room 117
Swingle Hall	First Floor SW Stairwell
Tichenor Hall	Room 302
Upchurch Hall	Room 219
Vaughn Large Animal Hospital	Room 1009 - Breakroom
Vaughn Large Animal Hospital	Room 1256 - Central Supply Room
Vaughn Large Animal Hospital	Room 2015 - Copy Room
Veterinary Education Center	Room 106 - Near Recycle Bins
Veterinary Education Center	Room 227 - In Hallway
Walker Building	3306 - Drug Discovery and Development
Wallace Hall	Room 208

Contacts

For questions, comments, and service needs related to battery recycling, please contact:

Office of Sustainability | sustain@auburn.edu | 334-844-7777

Risk Management & Safety | sms0081@auburn.edu | 334-740-1267

For questions, comments, and service related to all other recycling, please contact:

Waste Reduction & Recycling Department | aureuse@auburn.edu | 334-844-9461

For personal battery recycling within the City of Auburn, please contact:

City of Auburn Environmental Services | webenvirsvc@auburnalabama.org | 334-501-3080

For emergency situations, dial 911.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you’ll find a list of frequently asked questions to help provide additional information about the Battery Recycling Program. If you have further questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Who can participate in this program?

The Auburn University Battery Recycling Program is available to faculty, staff, and students living in on-campus residence halls. The program is intended to support university operations and campus residential communities.

How large are the recycling boxes?

The standard battery bins measure 10 in x 10 in.

A transparent bucket with a white lid.

How often are battery bins collected and processed?

During the fall and spring semesters, battery recycling bins are typically collected monthly. Over the summer semester, we collect bins twice. Following collection, batteries are sorted, weighed, and prepared for shipment to certified recycling partners.

What do I do if a bin is full or needs service?

If you encounter a full bin or notice that a location needs service, please submit a service request by completing the Bin Pick-Up Form.

What should I do if I find a leaking or damaged battery?

Do not place leaking or damaged batteries in the recycling bin. Avoid handling the battery directly if possible. Contact Risk Management & Safety (RMS) for proper guidance. If there is an immediate safety concern (such as smoke or fire), call 911.

Are there any batteries that are not accepted?

While we accept most battery types, some may require special handling and are not accepted in standard collection bins. These include large automotive batteries, industrial batteries, or batteries that are leaking or damaged. Please contact Risk Management and Safety for guidance on the proper disposal of specialty or large-scale battery waste.

How can I recycle personal batteries if I live off campus?

Residents living off campus are encouraged to use local community recycling resources. The City of Auburn Environmental Services Department provides battery recycling options at designated collection sites. Please visit the City of Auburn’s website for current drop-off locations and guidelines.

Is there a cost associated with battery recycling on campus?

No. There is no cost for eligible campus participants to recycle batteries through the Auburn University Battery Recycling Program. The service is provided by Risk Management & Safety and the Office of Sustainability, with both units providing staffing and financial support.