PUUNENE — Community Work Day Program (CWD) will kick off the annual Great American Cleanup with the launch of a countywide household battery recycling program. 

Fifteen local businesses have partnered with this program to serve as drop-off sites to recycle household batteries on Maui, Lanai and Molokai. 

CWD will distribute several “Big Green Box” battery receptacles to participating stores and will handle pickup and shipping of the batteries to the Mainland for processing. 

The program offers an easy way for consumers to care for the environment. 

Used household batteries can be dropped off at the following locations: Longs Drugs (Lipoa Street) in Kihei, Kihei Ace Hardware, Hasegawa Store, Napili Market, Lahaina Ace Hardware, Kula Ace Hardware, Mana Foods, Pukalani Ace Hardware, Haiku Hardware & Garden, Hanzawa Store, Marmac Ace Hardware, Ben Franklin Crafts, Whole Foods Market, Pine Isle Market (Lanai) and Misaki’s (Molokai).

“The Recycling Section is very pleased CWD developed this much-needed program in conjunction with environmentally conscious businesses throughout our islands,” said Hana Steel, county recycling coordinator. “Thanks to all for keeping Maui no ka ‘oi!”

Household batteries are composed of at least 22 different substances, including mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, lithium, copper, manganese, silver, selenium, corrosive acids, carbon, electrolytes, plastic, zinc and steel. 

Through recycling programs, these materials can be recovered for use in the remanufacturing of new batteries and other consumer products.

CWD is managing the battery recycling project through a $8,420 grant from the county Department of Environmental Management’s Recycling Grant program.

Information about the national Big Green Box program can be found at www.biggreenbox.com.

For more information on the Household Battery Recycling Program, or to become a drop-off recycling location, call 877-2524.