The Hawaii Lithium Initiative: Free Large Battery Recycling
Protecting Our Island from a Modern Hazard
The Island of Hawaii is a unique ecosystem, leading the way in renewable energy adoption. Yet, this progress creates a new environmental challenge: what to do with large-format lithium-ion batteries once they reach the end of their life?
These are not standard AA batteries. We are talking about heavy battery packs from home solar storage systems, electric vehicles (EVs), and industrial tools. Currently, doing the right thing is prohibitively expensive on the island. Consumers often face fees exceeding $20 per pound to ship these hazardous materials back to the mainland for proper recycling.
Because of this extreme cost barrier, an alarming number of dangerous large lithium batteries are being improperly landfilled or, worse, illegally dumped into our environment. This poses severe fire risks and threatens our groundwater with toxic chemical leaching.
The Solution: A Free, Full-Service Program
The Global Ecology Foundation sees an urgent need to close this loop. We believe financial barriers should never prevent responsible environmental stewardship.
We are proud to launch a dedicated, completely free Large Lithium Battery Recycling Service for the Island of Hawaii. This program is specifically designed for residents and businesses burdened with heavy, end-of-life lithium storage units.
How It Works
We handle the difficult logistics so you don’t have to.
- Easy Scheduling: Contact us if you have large lithium units ready for disposal.
- We Come To You: We offer a pickup service for both commercial businesses and private residences across the island. You do not need to transport these heavy items yourself.
- Safe Consolidation: We safely transport collected batteries to our secure holding facility.
- Mainland Recycling: Once we accumulate a full pallet, we manage the complex regulations of shipping the hazardous cargo to certified US lithium battery recyclers on the mainland. There, valuable metals like cobalt and lithium are recovered for the domestic supply chain.
Funded by Community and Government Partnership
This vital service is available at no cost to the island community thanks to a blend of funding sources. The program is supported by private donations to the foundation, alongside targeted grants from both State and Federal government entities dedicated to hazardous waste diversion and sustainability.
Call 707.386.3652 for more information