Batteries are weighing down our landfills – with heavy metals that is

It’s post Christmas and the first wave of after-holiday trash has made its way to the landfills. Old toys, last year’s cell phone, video games, cameras, laptops–and of course, when its out with the old, the batteries goes too.

Even if you’re using rechargeable batteries –(and you’re in the minority if you do according to the CBC’s Marketplace’s show “Batteries Not Included”)

Manufacturer labels may say that it is safe to throw out lithium and alkaline batteries – but According to Adria Vasil’s book Ecoholic [when you’re addicted to the planet], 50% to 70% of heavy metals found in landfills come from our everyday batteries. 

Here in Vancouver, you can bring your dead batteries to your municipal recycling depot.  The store that you purchased your batteries from should also have a recycling program – but you may have to search to find the box they keep the recycled batteries in. Nevertheless, it never hurts to seek and find those depots. Recycling means one less burden the landfills have to hold.