Can't recycle Alkaline batteries...??

[DandyDon]

I've been saving all of my spent batteries, all kinds, and have asked my daughter's family to save theirs for me, but in looking for places to send or drop them - now I read that no one recycles alkaline batteries? You can read anything on the net of course, but I just could not find any info on recycling these, much like this guys experiences: There May Be No Need to Recycle Alkaline Batteries

Anyone happen to know more about this? Did I miss something...??

 

[Peter_C]

Not sure, but our local battery store, Interstate Batteries, accepts all kinds of batteries into a bin placed out front. Cali has all kinds of green stuff going on with clean air emissions, solar power, , recycling programs, etc., nothing like that state of Texas where Prius' are looked down upon by BIG trucks

You can find a place to recycle batteries from this website. Battery Recycling - Earth911.com

 

[DandyDon]

Not sure, but our local battery store, Interstate Batteries, accepts all kinds of batteries into a bin placed out front. Cali has all kinds of green stuff going on with clean air emissions, solar power, , recycling programs, etc., nothing like that state of Texas where Prius' are looked down upon by BIG trucks

You can find a place to recycle batteries from this website. Battery Recycling - Earth911.com

From what I have read, lots of places will accept them, but the alkaline batteries will be separated and thrown in the trash. There are sites that will encourage you to send in all dry cells, at your expense, but that looks like income production. CA has stronger rules, I know - but I wonder if they just dump them too?

That article I linked covered it pretty well I think, including: "...because alkaline batteries no longer contain mercury and because of the small amount of recoverable metals in them, they are not typically recycled."

 

[DandyDon]

Too late to edit last post. The local Walmart does not accept batteries for recycling, but the local Radio Shack does - and they claim they accept Alkaline batteries. I don't really know that the latter are forwarded to a reclamation site or they just accept them for show and discard in trash, but I'll take them both bags - alone with some broken cell phones.

 

[miked]

Our local recycling center no longer accepts alkaline batteries-they have a sign indicating that we should just throw them out in the regular garbage'

 

[jackriley53]

Hi all.
Just popped in and saw the posts and thought I'd clear up some confusion. First of all, alkaline batteries definitely should be recycled. The only reason municipalities advocate "throwing in the trash" as a responsible solution is because they can't afford to foot the recycling bill. I sympathize, but it's still not a good solution. Alkaline batteries contain heavy metals and electrolytes that contaminate ground water. Imagine diving in a bay with tons of alkaline batteries corroding on the floor of the bay..............you'd not find much sea life. So we can agree that you need to recycle them.
I do work for Interstate Battery in Washington State and we accept alkaline batteries and responsibly recycle them. In our case they all go to a local steel mill and are used in making rebar. Some retailers that accept alkaline do just turn around and put them in the trash. I've even found places that charge customers a fee to "recycle" their alkaline batteries and then they dump them in the trash! Despicable.
To find a place to recycle I would suggest going to Earth911.com and type in your zip and "alkaline batteries" and it will show you the closest options. I would suggest verifying that they aren't going to charge you and that they are responsibly recycling.
Until the manufacturers start paying the freight on recycling alkaline, it's going to be a pain in the rear.

 

[DandyDon]

Thanks. I went to Recycling | Earth911.com and I got Wow, no listings? Sorry about that! Same for compact fluorescent bulbs. Oh well, Radio Shack accepts my batteries and broken cell phones* and I think I can get Walmart to take old CFBs.

* My family has stopped getting new Verizon phones as we don't want to be forced into the new rate plan, so we get used replacements on ebay. Some last longer than others.

 

[Abdullah]

Your basic alkaline battery is comprised of a metal case and a powdered zinc/gel core surrounded my a mixture of manganese oxide and carbon. The alkaline bit is the potassium hydroxide electrolyte.

If you have plenty of time on your hands, and no where to recycle, you can recycle them yourself. Cut open the case and neutralize the contents with citric acid. Rinse the case in fresh water and save for your friendly scrap dealer (it'll be your donation, I doubt it's worth any money). Pour the mixture of citric acid and battery contents though a coffee filter. Recycle the liquid for more batteries. Mix the solids with your compost pile. Broadcast the mature compost on your lawn or use it to grow flowers in pots (the bees will love you).

If time is money, then this is a money losing venture. But, you'll feel better if you're a recycler.