What's the best way to recycle my batteries?

Question

I live in Auburn, AL and I frequently use a handheld GPS device when I do field work. It goes through AA's pretty fast. So I have a bit of a collection now. I want to safely dispose of/recycle these batteries. Does anyone know of a place near me or a website that can help. (I already checked out www.batteryrecycling.com)

Answer 1

You should return your used batteries to the supplier who will dispose it according to the scheduled procedure.  The suppliers has to observe enviormental norms in disposing of these used batteries.  Moreover recycling is not a cottage industry and it is done on a larger base of course commercially with the help of non-polluting plants.

Answer 2

umm i take mine to staples and they have a bin for them. you could prob take them to a recycling plant.  

Answer 3

Radio Shack is probably a good bet, & if they don't take them, they can probably recommend some place that can.  Also, if you're handy with a soldering iron, go to iHack.com (it may be iHacked.com, I don't remember), there's a detailed schematic with instructions that shows you how to build a recharger that is capable of recharging standard AA's.  And while you're at Radio Shack, get yourself a rechargeable battery pack setup that will allow you to use rechargeables, with a set (or two) on standby charge in the vehicle.  This will cost you a bit of coin, but if this is a situation that will be continuing for more than a year, the long term benefit is that it will decrease your battery consumption, and the rechargeables will pay for themselves within a year.  Good luck, hope that helps...  

Answer 4

If you're talking about non-rechargeable alkaline batteries, you don't have to recycle them anymore. They no longer contain mercury. You can trash them. The only common household batteries that are environmental problems are lithium batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries. So if you don't use these you have no problem.