How to dispose of dry batteries in Kyoto

Hello, thank you for visiting and coming back to Porch's blog. Today, I'm writing about how to throw away batteries in Kyoto.

Dry Batteries have been largely replaced with USB charging for a decade. I remember I used to buy dry batteries quite often and I was annoyed that I wasn't 100% sure that I needed to buy 単三電池 (たんさんでんち/AA size batteries in English) or 単四電池 (たんよんでんち/AAA size batteries).

However, batteries are still mostly used for toys and remote controls. I realized this after my child was born. 4/5 of my son's toys that run on some form of electricity require batteries. I bought a remote control for Fire TV from Amazon half a year ago and that also needs dry batteries.

The other day, I was talking with a friend of mine who has lived in Japan for almost 20 years about where we could throw batteries away. We both don't know the specific place/shop for it. How to dispose of dry batteries tends to fall into a mystery even for the Japanese or long-term residents in Japan.

The answer is not so complicated. You can bring used dry batteries and rechargeable batteries in the designated facilities in Kyoto city.

Here is how to find the designated places for you to bring used batteries away.

1. Eco-machi-station (エコまちステーション *1)(区役所・市役所)

Eco-machi-station is translated into counters for Ecological Activities. You can find a trash box in the city office and ward offices. Please look for 乾電池 (かんでんち/dry batteries) section on the box.

2. Shigen map (資源マップ/Map for recycables)

There are some more designated public facilities for recyclables correction. This map is only available in Japanese.

https://www5.city.kyoto.jp/shigenmap/

Apart from the places listed up above, batteries are sometimes corrected at electronics shops and supermarkets. Please look closely at their entrance. They usually have a recyclables correction box at the entrance of the shop.

I came across this recyclables correction box and it wasn't the first time I visited this supermarket... This story tells how we don't pay attention unless we need to find them seriously.

Have a nice day!

*1

Explanation of Eco-machi-station on Kyoto city's website: We will further promote efforts to expand the circle of mutual perspiration with citizens by opening a window in the ward office or branch office as a base for supporting local voluntary cleanup activities, waste reduction, and recycling activities such as community collection of used tempura oil, used paper, etc., consultation on waste separation, and awareness-raising activities on global warming countermeasures.