According to the EPA, more than three billion batteries are purchased in the United States each year.
Household batteries – AAs, AAAs, Cs, Ds and 9-volts – do not pose as great a threat to landfills as they used to because they contain much less mercury than their predecessors. As a result, Seattle and many other municipalities allow them to be placed in the trash.
Old batteries, along with rechargeable batteries from cell phones, MP3 players and laptops contain potentially toxic heavy metals sealed up inside, and if thrown out with the regular garbage can jeopardize the environmental integrity of the landfill. More than 6.7 million pounds of rechargeable batteries were recycled at drop-off locations in North America last year.
To find a nearby location to drop off your household, rechargeable, lead-acid, ni-Cad and car batteries for recycling, visit www.earth911.com.