Nation faces uphill battle in recycling used batteries

However, in reality, the recycling of used dry-cell batteries has not fared well.

Liu Yanlong, the general secretary of the China Industrial Association of Power Sources, said recycling of waste dry-cell batteries is not profitable for manufacturers and recyclers due to the low economic value of zinc and manganese, the two major metals they contain.

Wang Zixin, owner of a used-battery recycling center in Beijing, said on average he loses 0.06 yuan for every cell he recycles, taking costs of transportation and processing into consideration.

According to his estimates, less than 1 percent of used dry-cell batteries consumed in the capital city annually are recycled.

Wang receives parcels of discharged batteries delivered from individuals, companies and communities, which are stored in a warehouse.

The 50-year-old said he is building a processing plant of used batteries in Hebei province, which is expected to recycle 3,000 tons a year. But he admitted collecting enough batteries remains a problem due to the lack of an efficient collection network.

To collect more used batteries, Wang plans to distribute recycling machines across the city. Residents could put used batteries in the machine in exchange for virtual credits, which they can use to buy products from designated businesses.

Despite efforts from individuals like Wang, the government of Beijing does not encourage residents to recycle spent dry-cell batteries "as there is no environmental hazard", said Wu Runjiang, an official from the Solid Waste Management Office of the Beijing Urban Administration Commission.

Regarding the disposal of batteries which contain toxic substances, such as button cells and zinc-air batteries, Wu said a pilot program installing trash bins for toxic waste in neighborhoods is being implemented, and all communities in the city are expected to be covered by 2020.