Cell Out: How-To Dispose of Batteries

Every year, more than 18,000 tons of "dead" batteries are tossed into landfills, mercilessly left there to ooze heavy metals into water and soil. Luckily, this is a problem with a simple solution -- and Umbra's advice will recharge you.

Show notes:
To find out more about how and where to recycle batteries, visit Rechargeable Battery Recycling [http://www.rbrc.org/consumer/] and Earth 911 [http://earth911.com/].
Ask Umbra on recycling batteries [http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2003/10/28/umbra-battery/index.html]
Easy ways to cut your energy use, one day at a time [http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/11/05/Today/index.html]
Made to Break reveals the roots of our throwaway culture [http://www.grist.org/advice/books/2006/06/29/grossman/index.html]

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• advice
• ask
• umbra
• batteries
• ecological
• footprint
• waste
• alkaline
• rechargeable
• recycle
• landfill
• toxic
• ooze

[GristTV]

If Earth911's locator tool or your local government fail to help you find a recycling solution for your old mercury-containing batteries or button batteries, then consider the Big Green Box. You order the box and then start filling it up with old household batteries of any type, as well as junk electronic equipment like cell phones, laptops, PDAs, cameras, calculators, and cordless tools. Once the box is full—up to 43 pounds worth—you ship it off to the Big Green Box people. The cost = $58.

[TheCaptainLulz]

I love hearing the heavy metals line. there are no heavy metals in alkaline and ZnC cells. both zinc and manganese are required for life, plant and animal. NiCd's are the only batteries sold today with a true heavy netal and it tells you right on the casing not to throw them in the trash.

[pelopotas]

just dont make mor videos like this one who ke

[cocalunch2]

who cares?!

[cocalunch2]

-________________________-

wtf.

[ResettisReplicas]

Ok, this video FAILS.

Number one, what do I do with dead batteries I already have?

Number two, can you actually charge anything besides a digital clock or lightbulb with a fruit battery? Number three, this video is featured, and the Lowes logo is in the thumbnail. Coincidence?

Number four, were you on drugs when you made :32 to :42?

[daddub1]

Did you get a charge on your tongue when you touched it with your tongue?I did,LOL..

[lifelessgamereviewer]

Couldn't you just not throw your dead batteries at un-suspecting wildlife and stick them in a box somewhere? I've got a box I throw all my dead electronics in, and as of yet no ducks have died as a result of me feeding the electronics to the wildlife. It's easier than leaving your house to actively recycle the

non-rechargables.

[Juliixoxo]

You teach me lots of super handy stuff. ^__^.