Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Product Service System

Issue: Recycling of Batteries

Research/Background:
Australia is one of the countries with the highest per capita waste generation.
This means that on average each person in Australia produces more waste than other individuals in almost all other countries.
The most common form of hazardous waste generated by Australians is in the form of batteries.
We all use batteries in our everyday life, whether it be in remote controls, gaming devices, mobiles phones, cameras, etc.
In Australia, it is estimated that on average, each person will go through around 18 batteries a year and a household with children will use an astounding 109 batteries each year.
[source: www.sita.com.au]
However many people don’t realise the danger of disposing batteries in a regular household bin. While safe during use, we need to ensure that all batteries, both single use or rechargeable, are disposed of correctly at the end of their life.
Each year 8,000 tonnes of hazardous battery waste ends up in Australian landfill.
[source: http://www.australianfranchises.com.au/articles/battery-world-launches-battery-recycling-program.html]
Rechargeable batteries contain metals such as cadmium, which can be harmful to the environment. Rechargeable batteries commonly contain toxic metals such as nickel-cadmium (NiCad), nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion, which can harm the environment by contaminating soil and groundwater.
Lead acid batteries contain lead and sulfuric acid, which can both be toxic for the environment. When recycled, the lead, sulfuric acid, and plastic casing can be recovered, helping make lead acid batteries 96% recyclable. 

Current Solutions:
Local councils have set up collection bins/outlets for people to dispose of their used batteries. However the percentage of people using them is very low. People need more of an incentive to recycle their batteries, and these recycling point should also be more accessbile, or in places that people frequent often.

Concept:

My concept is a fun dispensing device for disposing of batteries. Consumers drop their batteries into the slot at the top and time it to try and get the battery to fall in the rotating slot at the bottom. If they make it it, they receive a coupon or a ticket or something like that. It is similar to arcade games and machines where you can win tickets.

The product is wall mounted and can be located in local shopping malls, supermarkets, or other places that people frequent often. The inside back wall of the machine (green in the diagram) could be used as advertising space, offering companies an incentive to donate coupons for the machine in exchange for free advertising. Batteries can be easily collected by council employees but emptying the bottom part using a key to open it.


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