While in use, rechargeable batteries are safe, but once they no longer work, they must be properly recycled. If trashed, rechargeable batteries can potentially be hazardous to the environment because of the heavy metals they contain, such as nickel, cadmium, lithium and lead.
Recycling your rechargeable batteries is EASY and FREE. Retail stores, such as Batteries Plus, Radio Shack, Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart and many others, accept rechargeable batteries for recycling. To find a convenient rechargeable battery drop-off location visit the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) online at call2recycle.org or call their hotline at 1-800-8-BATTERY.
As a result of the convenient program set up by the RBRC, so far this year more than 7.5 million pounds of rechargeable batteries have been recycled. And, recycling rechargeable batteries is a great example of a closed loop process because most of the metals and plastic from spent batteries is used to make new batteries.
Still no luck? Check out our E-cycle Coupon program for a discounted rate to recycle your bulbs with our electronics processor, Blue Star Recyclers.
To find out where you can recycle batteries and a wide range of other materials locally, visit Denver Recycles’ online Recycling Directory / Dropoff Locations.