The Colorado State University Bookstore inside the Lory Student Center is selling next-generation rechargeable batteries that the manufacturer says can be charged 1,000 times.
Just in time to be stocking stuffers, the Paleblue products can power all of those remotes, toys, gadgets and gizmos that take AAA, AA, C and D batteries.
“CSU is very eco-friendly, and providing an alternative to constantly discarding batteries is appealing,” said John Parry, director of the CSU Bookstore. “The initial cost is higher than standard batteries, but they can be recharged hundreds of times, so the long-term savings is very big.”
Tons of batteries
At the CSU Bookstore, a four-pack of AA Paleblue batteries including a charging cord – which can charge four batteries at once – costs $29.95, but they may outlive whatever device they power. Widescale use of rechargeable batteries would reduce the amount of used single-use batteries collected around campus.
In fiscal year 2023, CSU collected 7,755 pounds of batteries from all campus departments. That’s more than 3.8 tons for recycling, according to CSU Materials Supervisor Jake Drenth.
In fiscal year 2022, CSU collected 3,057 pounds of batteries. In fiscal year 2021, the amount was 5,687 pounds. That’s a three-year total of more than 8.2 tons that have been recycled by Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations.
“The full battery recycling buckets across the University attest to the thousands and thousands of batteries CSU employees and students use each year,” said Tonie Miyamoto, executive director of communications and sustainability in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
A step towards zero-waste
“As reusable battery technology advances, transitioning to rechargeable batteries is one step towards our goal of a zero-waste campus,” Miyamoto said. “It will also reduce not only the labor and expense related to collecting and recycling these batteries but will also save replacement money.”
The Paleblue batteries can be recharged by plugging the USB cable directly into the battery, and they can be charged in 90 minutes. The batteries are available on Paleblue’s website, which lists 41 physical stores in the United States (including some Colorado locations) and more than 100 in Europe.
“They fit in well with the CSU and the Colorado philosophy of reusable/renewable products,” Parry said. “Many students are eco-friendly, and they always enjoy having eco-friendly products available.”
Finding your battery-powered energy
- Each battery can be charged more than 1,000 times, and a AA battery recharges from any USB in 90 minutes.
- A set of Paleblue AA batteries over their lifetime will replace three 5-gallon buckets of single-use batteries.
- Many single-use batteries end up in incinerators or landfills (but are recycled at CSU if put in the battery collection bins).
- CSU disposed of about 3.8 tons of used batteries in fiscal year 2023.
