CASE STUDIES
How Metro Waste Authority Built a Battery Safety Program That Won a National Award.
Batteries in the trash start fires in trucks and facilities. Metro Waste Authority answered with a community-wide network of CleanRiver eBins, making safe battery disposal convenient for residents in every member community.
Case Study Overview
Metro Waste Authority manages waste and recycling services on behalf of its member communities. As household battery use grew, so did the number of batteries ending up in carts and collection trucks — and with them, the risk of fire.
The authority set out to build a regional battery collection program that would be easy for residents to use and simple for every community to host.
Results at a Glance
Batteries Collected
Diverted from trash and recycling in just over a year.
Active eBins
Placed across Metro Waste Authority communities.
Community Adoption
All 17 board-represented communities agreed to host an eBin in the first order.
The Challenge
Lithium-ion and other household batteries can spark when crushed or compacted. When residents put them in trash or recycling, they put drivers, workers and facilities at risk.
Fire Risk
Batteries discarded with trash and recycling can ignite in collection trucks and processing facilities.
Improper Disposal
Without a convenient option, residents default to the curbside cart.
Low Awareness
Residents needed clear, simple guidance on how to prepare and drop off batteries safely.
The Solution & Impact
Metro Waste Authority deployed CleanRiver eBins at accessible community locations, paired with a simple three-step message that tells residents exactly what to do.
Bag It
Residents place each battery in a clear bag before drop-off.
Check It
Clear on-bin messaging confirms what's accepted and how to prepare it.
Drop It
Batteries go into a secure eBin at a convenient, local collection point.
Every board-represented community signed on from the first order. Within just over a year, 31 eBins had collected more than 30,000 lbs of batteries — and the program earned national recognition.
Every board-represented community agreed to host an eBin from the very first order, giving the program region-wide coverage from launch.
The simple "Bag It. Check It. Drop It." message and convenient local drop-off points made safe disposal the easy choice for residents.
Every board-represented community agreed to host an eBin from the very first order, giving the program region-wide coverage from launch.
Free Case Study
See how Metro Waste Authority planned, launched and scaled an award-winning battery collection program — and what your community can take from it.
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