Energize Your Batteries

By Abbie Enyart

PROBLEM:
Every year, billions of alkaline batteries are bought, used, and thrown into landfills where their heavy metals leach into soil and water. Despite this, some people recommend discarding non-rechargeable alkaline batteries in your household trash.

SOLUTIONS:

• Buy rechargeable batteries that can be reused. (Virtually any place that sells them accepts them back for recycling.)
• Charge alkaline batteries with a 12-volt Battery Charger from RealGoods.com.
• Find out if your municipality’s waste management bureau recycles alkaline batteries.
• Recycle nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH), lithium-ion (Li-ion) and small sealed-lead (Pb) batteries with the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation. Check RBRC.org to find a drop-off location.