Did you get a bunch of things that use batteries for Christmas this year? Use ones that you can recharge! And if you must use regular ones (or when you have to replace the rechargeables), be sure to recycle your batteries. In relation to recycling, do you know that super sacks are recyclable? To learn more about their recycling program look for isustainrecycling.com
I had to go online to figure out where to take old ones I found around the house, because I didn’t want to just dump them in the trash and have them end up in a landfill. Turns out that I should be able to take them to my local Walgreens! Yeah!
12 replies on “Be Green! Recycle Your Batteries!”
I keep a small box to toss dead batteries in and have found that most tech stores like Best Buy or Circuit City also have recycling repositories. Also, if using CFLs (which contain mercury) and they go out, take them to IKEA for recycling.
Was recently at Disney World and watched tourists casually tossing their camera batteries in regular trash receptacles. If Disney had a better place it certainly wasn’t made known
The new National Geographic has a great article about e-waste (batteries, computers, iPhones) and how they are ruining third world countries and lacing them with horrible toxins and the like. It was startling information.
I’m glad that you’re doing your part and recycling what you can – batteries are some of the worst offenders out there in terms of toxic materials.
Good information! I didn’t know about this but with all the AA batteries we go though, I’ll be more aware to take them to my local Walgreens! Kinda funny, they have “Green” in their name…Hmmm?
[…] Christine led me to a link where you can recycle your old Alkaline Batteries, regular household batteries. It turns out that you can go to Walgreens to turn them in. I have a drawer full of dead batteries that I’ve been saving thinking I can “reuse” them in something that doesn’t pull as much energy. I’ve re-used a few, but when the “really” go out…then I pitch them in the trash. Instead, I should just toss them in the trash. […]
Most towns have battery recycling at the local town recycling centers – if you don’t have a Walgreens or Ikea. Or, some towns/counties have a “hazardous waste” collection day a couple of times a year – they collect unused paints/varnishes, unused lawn chemicals, all kinds of batteries, etc. Our county does it twice a year – very handy.
We recycle our batteries! Our local recycling picks them up, along with our bottles, cans, and paper. We just bought some rechargables to limit the number of batteries we toss too, because we’re geeks and we use a LOT of batteries 🙂
I had no idea. And I really should considering I have a three year whose whole life practically runs on batteries and sugar.
If you can find a place to take regular batteries…great! But if not, no need to worry….see below.
Further Details
For those with inquiring minds
Regular alkaline batteries:
These used to be hazardous due to mercury content. Mercury, if released into the environment, can contaminate lakes and streams, the plants and animals who live there, and eventually people who eat the fish. In 1996, Congress enacted the “Battery Act,” which among other things banned the use of mercury in these batteries. The State of NH beat them to the punch by enacting similar legislation in 1995 for batteries sold in NH. So what it comes down to is that batteries manufactured and sold before 1995 or 1996 probably have mercury in them and should be taken to a household hazardous waste (HHW) collection event. Those made after that can simply be tossed into the trash. One exception to the “new is safe” rule is foreign batteries–U.S. law has no bearing on what Japan or other nations might put in their batteries, so you may want to bring those to an HHW collection.
Please Note: No batteries should be thrown into trash which will be incinerated due to the potential for heavy metals going up the stack. Most municipalities which incinerate their trash have an active battery recycling program. Trash from GUVSWD residents is sent to a landfill, not incinerated, that is why we recommend trashing them here. Plymouth, Windsor, Springfield, Westminster, and towns in between send their trash to an incinerator, so please recycle batteries if you live there.
THIS WEBSITE IS TOTALLY ME ! I STARTED WANTING TO DO THIS WHEN I WAS GETTING RESEARCH FOR SCIENCE FAIR
your mother never loved you.(:
I agree
If you can find a place to take regular batteries…great! But if not, no need to worry….see below.
Further Details
For those with inquiring minds
Regular alkaline batteries:
These used to be hazardous due to mercury content. Mercury, if released into the environment, can contaminate lakes and streams, the plants and animals who live there, and eventually people who eat the fish. In 1996, Congress enacted the “Battery Act,” which among other things banned the use of mercury in these batteries. The State of NH beat them to the punch by enacting similar legislation in 1995 for batteries sold in NH. So what it comes down to is that batteries manufactured and sold before 1995 or 1996 probably have mercury in them and should be taken to a household hazardous waste (HHW) collection event. Those made after that can simply be tossed into the trash. One exception to the “new is safe” rule is foreign batteries–U.S. law has no bearing on what Japan or other nations might put in their batteries, so you may want to bring those to an HHW collection.
Please Note: No batteries should be thrown into trash which will be incinerated due to the potential for heavy metals going up the stack. Most municipalities which incinerate their trash have an active jvc bn-vf707u battery recycling program. Trash from GUVSWD residents is sent to a landfill, not incinerated, that is why we recommend trashing them here. Plymouth, Windsor, Springfield, Westminster, and towns in between send their trash to an incinerator, so please recycle batteries if you live there.