At Least Keep Them Out of the Landfill
This is the time of year for thinking about batteries, and not just the emotional/spiritual kind to which the phase “Recharge Your Batteries” usually refers. Many of the toys on wish lists require them: the Brio trains with the on/off switch, Wii remotes,cameras, remote controlled gizmos of all kinds - if you are shopping for those, you probably want to make note of the “Remember the Batteries” sign. But before you toss in the jumbo pack of AAs, consider investing in rechargeables. According to Consumer Reports:
For digital cameras, some toys, and other devices that draw bursts of power or are used often, choose rechargeables, such as the top-rated Duracell. They cost more than alkaline AA batteries and you’ll pay $15 to $20 for a charger, but they almost always save money in the long run. The rechargeable Duracell Precharged, which scored very good, is unusual in that it works right out of the box without an initial charge.
If the rechargeable route isn’t for you - or even if it is but you are still rounding up the single use kind, start a battery collection box in your home for the ones that no longer give a charge. Once that fills up, there are many local places to dispose of them properly, including B & B Hardware on Washington Blvd in Culver City and most of the Target Stores within the City of Los Angeles. For Santa Monica residents, there is the Santa Monica Community Recycling Center at 2411 Delaware Ave which is a must see - and smell! - with the kids to expose them to the wonders of urban garbage collection.
B & B's warehouse entrance has Battery Disposal Containers from the city
Batteries in regular landfills cause all sorts of problems, from the leaching of heavy metals to the havoc that serious corrosive acids can wreak. Help your community do the right thing by setting up a battery drop at a nearby school and spread the word. Just make sure to take the collection where it needs to go - you’ll be surprised at how fast the container will fill up.
Let us know your experience with batteries and battery disposal.
B & B also takes florescent bulbs
