Recycling Batteries in Rhode Island
Below is an email I received from Annemarie when someone was looking for resources in Rhode Island for Recycling batteries. There is one option which is to take the batteries to the ECO-Depot and the RI Resource Recovery in RI. But this individual wanted to know if there were other options in our state. Annemarie is a recycling coordinator for a local farmet’s market…. here is her response to the battery issue.
I don’t know about Best Buy, but I’m fairly certain that the only batteries that Radio Shackand Staples take are RECHARGABLE batteries. Some stores used to take any and allbatteries, but that has not been the case for a number of years now; the only place todispose of them safely in RI is at the Eco Depot at the landfill, or at one of the satellitepick-up days they schedule in various communities thoughout the year.It’s unfortunate that so many places make a lot of money selling these batteries, but wantno responsibility for the waste created. I have tried to replace all my batteries with rechargables, but sometimes that isn’t practical or safe (in smoke alarms, for example). As with electronic goods in general, manufacturers and retailers need to step up andenable consumers to recycle or safely dispose of these batteries which last only a short while and are required to power so many things. As citizens, we need to demand that our cities and towns set up more effective recycling and disposal programs to keep these hazardous items out of the landfill. As consumers, we should complain to stores and manufacturers, and try to to buy goods that use rechargable batteries that can be easily returned for recycling. Sorry to go on; the whole battery dilemma infuriates me! Like the first poster, I have several pounds of dead batteries that have never made it out to the EcoDepot. They just sit there waiting for the day that someone gets tired of seeing them there in the cabinet under the sink and throws them in the trash while I’m not home.
Good luck with your batteries!
Annemarie
on July 7, 2008 on 11:44 am
Batteries are the only things that are difficult to recycle – how about CLFs – Compact Fluorescent light bulbs. I’m glad that home depot has stepped on this one.
ATLANTA, June 24, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — The Home Depot(R), the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today expanded its long-term commitment to the environment and sustainability by launching a national in-store, consumer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb recycling program at all 1,973 The Home Depot locations.