I hadn't given any thought to the core charge as part of the national recycling program until I returned a 12v to Walmart today and was told I could not recoup the core charge. It caused me to to think about the system, why the Walmart clerk was right in his decision, and why the system is flawed.
In my case I bought a 12v from Walmart 3 years ago. At that time I presented with an old 12v bought elsewhere. I was given a core credit on the old battery and charged the same core charge on the new for a net core charge of zero. This time around I bought a 12v online and did not give them the old walmart battery. Instead I brought the Walmart battery to them today, along with a receipt that proved the battery was bought from them. The clerk noticed that my receipt showed a core charge credit and so refused to give me another one.
I think I understand the retail logic: If I pay a core charge at store 'A', store 'B' does not want to credit the core charge they did not collect. Seem reasonable from their POV.
From the standpoint of recycling it is fairly idiotic. Not only does it deny the incentive to recycle, the store is paid when it supplies the lead to recyclers.
I've read that ~ 80% of lead is recycled. That leaves a lot of lead to enter our environment and water supply. I cannot help but wonder how much of the 20% not recycled could be reclaimed with a a more sensible program that pays the core bounty at any retail store that sells batteries, no questions asked. To the retailers I say suck it up. You would be paid twice some of the time and at least once.
In my case I bought a 12v from Walmart 3 years ago. At that time I presented with an old 12v bought elsewhere. I was given a core credit on the old battery and charged the same core charge on the new for a net core charge of zero. This time around I bought a 12v online and did not give them the old walmart battery. Instead I brought the Walmart battery to them today, along with a receipt that proved the battery was bought from them. The clerk noticed that my receipt showed a core charge credit and so refused to give me another one.
I think I understand the retail logic: If I pay a core charge at store 'A', store 'B' does not want to credit the core charge they did not collect. Seem reasonable from their POV.
From the standpoint of recycling it is fairly idiotic. Not only does it deny the incentive to recycle, the store is paid when it supplies the lead to recyclers.
I've read that ~ 80% of lead is recycled. That leaves a lot of lead to enter our environment and water supply. I cannot help but wonder how much of the 20% not recycled could be reclaimed with a a more sensible program that pays the core bounty at any retail store that sells batteries, no questions asked. To the retailers I say suck it up. You would be paid twice some of the time and at least once.
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