How to dispose of used batteries.

April 25, 2015

Good Neighbor Tips from Erin Doan, State Farm Insurance, Scottville,www.erindoan.com.

Stop and think before you throw those old electronics, batteries and lightbulbs in the trash. Recycling is a better option. (Plus, it’s illegal to leave them on the curb in some states.)

Why Recycle?
Most electronic waste and batteries contain toxic heavy metals that can seep into soil and water. Recycling these products not only keeps heavy metals out of the soil and water, but also helps reuse materials that require energy to mine and manufacture.

In general, you can recycle old electronics, batteries and lightbulbs at hazardous waste facilities, county recycling centers or community hazardous waste collections. See below for more specific guidelines for each item.

Electronics Disposal
Make sure to erase any personal data. If the electronics work, consider donating them.If they aren’t reusable, search for a certified recycling location in your area. The results may include:

Electronics retailers with take-back or trade-in programs
TV or electronics repair shops
Electronics recycling companies
Manufacturer recycling programs
Charitable organizations

Battery Disposal
Recycle any rechargeable, lithium, lithium ion and zinc air batteries instead of tossing them. Here’s how to dispose of batteries:

Take them to an electronics retailer.
Use one of the 34,000 Call2Recycle battery drop-off locations.
Purchase a mail-in recycling collection kit, such as the iRecycle Kit from Battery Solutions.

Lightbulb Disposal
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) contain small amounts of mercury, so handle them with care — especially any broken bulbs. You should be able to recycle mercury-containing bulbs through: