Used batteries may be considered regulated waste and are a common U.S. Postal Service® waste stream. As such, employees must use proper procedures to recycle used batteries. Most depleted batteries, including lithium-ion batteries used in handheld scanners and other portable electronic devices, contain hazardous components and must not be thrown in the trash.
Instead, used batteries must be managed as universal waste and recycled through the national contracts for universal waste management services between the Postal Service™ and its supplier Cleanlites Recycling, Inc. (Cleanlites).
Employees can use the recycling services available in eBuy+ to order mail-back containers or arrange for onsite bulk pick-up services by Cleanlites:
n Mail-back services. Waste batteries must only be shipped via FedEx, using the appropriate Cleanlites “LampMaster” recycling kits (see below).
n Direct or onsite pick-up services. Sites with large quantities of universal waste batteries can schedule a direct pick-up.
Important: Do not send waste batteries through the mail to the Atlanta Mail Recovery Center, Ybor City Processing and Distribution Center (Tampa Logistics and Distribution Center), or the Topeka Material Distribution Center (MDC*). The internal battery mail-back programs were canceled due to USPS® mailing restrictions and safety concerns.
For more information about used battery disposal, use the following resources:
n The Office of Sustainability battery recycling web page at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/battery-recycling.htm.
n Environmental points of contact listing, including the regional managers and supporting environmental field specialists, at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/contact.htm.
— Environmental Affairs and Corporate Sustainability,
Corporate Affairs, 6-3-21
