New SWANA Member Benefit Reduces Labor Time by up to 96%

Batteries power a growing number of products that people use every day; however, when lithium-ion batteries are placed in household trash or curbside recycling, they can become damaged or crushed and ignite. These preventable incidents put our industry’s workers and communities at risk, interrupt operations, and cause significant damage to facilities and equipment.

At the same time, emerging battery extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws are introducing new responsibilities and opportunities for collection, education, and recycling programs.

“A fair amount of time at King County HHW Facility is spent sorting and securing batteries, which is a tedious process. Due to the small size of lithium-ion batteries, this effort has become quite time consuming,” explained Julie Mitchell, hazardous waste programs project manager at King County.

To help members respond, SWANA launched a new benefit in partnership with The Battery Network that has led collection sites to reduce their labor time by up to 96 percent compared to traditional box collection, while improving worker safety.

“One of the biggest advantages with OneDrum is the staff time we’ve been able to recover and allocate to other areas of waste collection. As a result, we now have happier staff and more time to spread across our service lines,” Mitchell continued.

OneDrum™ is an all-in-one solution for collecting mixed primary, or single-use, and rechargeable consumer batteries by enabling collection sites to place accepted mixed batteries into one container without sorting them by chemistry or individually bagging or taping each battery terminal.

SWANA members save 10 percent on their OneDrum™ implementation. Watch this video to see how it works!

The OneDrum™ program is designed to support organizations at different points in their battery management journey, from those evaluating a new collection program to those seeking ways to strengthen an established operation.

“We quickly adopted the streamlined solution and realized immediate efficiency gains,” shared Anthony Schaeffer, lead equipment operator with City of Loveland.

Simplifying mixed-battery collection

For municipal programs, recycling centers, household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities, and other high-volume collectors, this new approach can mean less preparation for staff and a more streamlined approach to collection.

Not every battery can move through a standard collection program. Damaged, defective, and recalled (DDR) batteries require different management solutions.

Through the partnership, SWANA members can connect with The Battery Network to explore DDR solutions that fit their organization’s needs. Members can also access educational and outreach resources to support employees, customers, and communities.

“Having worked with The Battery Network for management of our damaged, defective, and recalled batteries, we knew their industry experience and ability to provide safe and valuable offerings,” said Schaeffer.

Evolving battery requirements & solutions

Waste and recycling teams need clear information to understand how emerging requirements affect program planning, public education, logistics, and operations. The partnership will connect members with EPR updates and regulatory education while providing access to practical battery safety and stewardship expertise.

Safe and convenient collection programs are essential to keeping batteries out of household trash and curbside recycling and directing them toward appropriate recovery pathways.

How to Get Started with OneDrum™

To explore OneDrum™, DDR management, battery EPR education, or other available resources, contact:

Sean Finney, The Battery Network, at sfinney@batterynetwork.org or 916-365-3658.

Note: Eligibility and availability may vary based on location, program requirements, and operational considerations. Internal partnership terms specify that the initial implementation discount applies to new facility locations and excludes existing program locations and repeat or replacement orders.

Not a SWANA Member?

Only SWANA members are eligible for the 10 percent discount and to unlock the resources and expertise of The Battery Network. Learn more about the benefits of SWANA membership and how to join today.