Helps Keep the Toxic Heavy Metals Out of Our Environment

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Batteries are a requirement to make electronic items portable.  They give our laptops and iPods necessary power to run while not plugged into an electrical source.  While they are an integral part of our culture and technology, the truth is that they are made up of some seriously toxic heavy metals.  Some of these metals include nickel cadmium, alkaline, mercury, nickel metal hydride and lead acid.  Each of these substances are toxic to our environment if not disposed of properly. 

Battery Recycling

Alkaline are the most common household batteries used today.  They are not able to be recharged and should be disposed of through your local community battery recycling program.

Nickel-Cadmium , such as those used in cell phones and digital cameras, are rechargeable.  Once Nickel-Cadmium batteries are spent they need to be recycled and are highly toxic if disposed of in a landfill.

Nickel Metal Hydride are used in laptop computers.  These are not toxic and can be disposed of.  They do, however, contain some parts which can be recycled.  Your local recycle center may or may not collect the nickel metal hydride type.

Button Cells are used in hearing aids, calculators and watches.  They contain silver, mercury and other toxic elements.  They need to be disposed of properly.

While battery recycling is widely available, the best environmental option is to use less batteries or at the least use the rechargeable type whenever possible.
There are some simple things you can do to reduce your need for batteries.  Some of these simple tips are:

• Turn off any battery-operated appliances when not in use
• Remove from appliances if they are not going to be used for a long time.
• Do not mix old with new ones.
• Do not recharge a battery unless it is specifically marked rechargeable.
• Do not dispose of in a fire it may cause them to explode.
• Do not open battery casings
• Do not insert backwards into any device.

 Recycling Bins
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Let’s Go Green Shopping

You can conserve resources, save energy, and prevent waste by buying products that:

• Are energy efficient
• Are used or reusable
• Are made with recycled content or are recyclable
• Have no packaging or reduced packaging

Everything you buy affects the environment, but some choices are better than others.

“Green purchasing” means buying smart. Shop with the environment in mind—that is, buy products that help conserve natural resources, save energy, and prevent waste. Green purchasing can also mean not buying things you don’t need. By educating yourself about the products you buy, you can make a difference in protecting the environment.

Green purchasing involves learning about all the ways that a product can affect the environment during the course of its “life cycle”—from the materials used to manufacture it, to how you use it, to what you do with it when you’re finished with it—so that you can make smart choices.

Use the tips and resources in this brochure to make yourself an educated consumer.

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Shopping Tips

Buy smart. Take some time to think before you buy something—maybe you don’t really need it. Maybe you can think of an alternative to buying a product, such as renting a DVD instead of buying it or sending a free e-card instead of a paper birthday card. Shopping with the environment in mind will conserve resources, prevent waste, and save money.

Buy durable products. Instead of buying disposable products, which are wasteful, buy things that will last a long time, such as rechargeable batteries and reusable plastic mugs for drinks.

Avoid excess packaging. Look for products that have less packaging, or buy in bulk—you’ll have less to throw away. You can also buy items with packaging that can be reused or recycled.

Buy used. Buying things that have been used before means that your purchase doesn’t use more resources or energy. If the item is still reusable when you’re through with it, then the next person to use it is not using additional resources either. You can find authentic retro clothes, room accessories, and even sports equipment at your local thrift store. Shop online or at local stores to buy used CDs and books.

Share with friends. Another way to save resources and energy is to swap with friends and family instead of buying brand-new products. Maybe you and your friends like the same video games. Why not share your games instead of each of you owning the same game? Or maybe you can rent the game first to see if you really want to own it.

Buy energy-efficient items. Look for the ENERGY STAR® logo when buying electronics such as TVs, CD players, DVD players, and computers. ENERGY STAR is a program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products.

Buy recycled. Buying items made with recycled-content materials means that fewer natural resources, such as trees, were used to produce the products. Products made from recycled paper, plastic, and other materials are usually easy to recognize in the store—just read the labels. Try starting with school supplies. Many stores carry recycled notebooks, pens, and other products.

How do my purchases make a difference?

Buying “green” lets companies know that you care about the environmental impact of the products you buy. Why would a big corporation care what you think? Because your current and future purchasing power is extremely important to them. In fact, companies spend $12 billion a year marketing their products to you.* Shopping “green” sends a message to the companies—that you care about the environment, and you’re not afraid to use your buying power to prove it.

Your purchasing choices affect what your parents buy. Your parents buy groceries and other items based on your likes and dislikes, and they might even buy a car input from you and your siblings. Your friends also listen to what you have to say when they decide what to buy. Use your influence to help others shop smart and protect the environment.

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For More Information

Use the following resources to find more information about how you can make a difference!

Act Green —a collaboration of the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Media Association—promotes environmental awareness and positive solutions to young people across the country.

www.IBuyDifferent.org is part of the Be, Live, Buy Different—Make a Difference campaign, which is a new national program from the World Wildlife Fund and the Center for a New American Dream. It teaches young people how to make a difference by buying differently.

“The Cost of Cool” —co-produced by the National Wildlife Federation, Population Communications International, and The Video Project—is a 26-minute video and curriculum guide package expressly designed for teens. It includes background information and hands-on activities about consumption, media, and the environment.

Ecological Footprint helps teens and others calculate the impact their choices have on the environment.

EPA’s Green Advertising Claims (PDF) (6 pp, 1.1MB, about PDF) brochure contains information about specific terms used to describe products, including “environmentally friendly,” “biodegradable,” and “ozone friendly.”

EPA’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program Web site—while mainly designed for government workers—contains great green purchasing resources and links.

ENERGY STAR® is a program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products.

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Go Green on Black Friday

Increasingly Black Friday has become the unofficial kickoff of the holiday buying season. As many of you seek good deals at the nation’s stores, have you thought of ensuring that your purchases are environmentally friendly? Here are some green tips that apply to Black Friday or any day of the year.

TOYS

As a parent, we want to ensure that our children’s toys are safe and free of toxic chemicals. We still see occasional reports that popular toys and even children’s toy jewelry may have some toxic content. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has made major strides to ensure the safety of the products we’ll find in stores this holiday season.

ELECTRONICS

Computers, video games, household appliances are popular during the holidays. If you are looking for a green purchase in this area, consider those products with the Energy Star label to save money and protect the environment at the same time. For example, if every home in the US purchased a home office product like a computer with the Energy Star label this year, the nation as a whole would save more than $75 million in annual energy costs and prevent 1 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, equivalent to emissions from 90,000 cars.

RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

Many toys, electronics, and hand held products require batteries. Rechargeable batteries are a must on any green gift list. The advantage is twofold. Not only will you save on batteries in the long run, but you’ll also minimize waste .

We have additional tips on green shopping.  We would love to hear about your green practices during the holidays.

Recycling Tips & Resources
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 75% of our waste is recyclable. This is grand news, particularly because the American Forest and Paper Association states that 87% of the U.S. inhabitants, or 268 million people, have access to curb-side or recycling programs. The delay is a lot of people are [...]

Helps Keep the Toxic Heavy Metals Out of Our Environment

Battery Recycling

Some of the hazards which can occur include:

• Leaching of heavy metals from solid waste landfills
• Pollution of lakes and streams as the metals vaporize into the air when burned
• Exposure of the environment and water to lead and corrosive acids
• Burning or danger to eyes and skin which come in contact with the acids.

In 1996, the Battery Act was signed into law to phase out the use of mercury in batteries and to provide collection methods and recycling and proper disposal. Batteries that end up in landfills can potentially leak into the environment and end up in our food chain, causing serious health risks to both humans and animals alike.

Not all batteries are created the same.  Therefore they require specific instructions to ensure each type of battery is properly disposed of.  Current regulations say that all batteries need to have labels on their packaging explaining to how to dispose of them.  Here is a quick reference list of the most common types: 

Alkaline are the most common household type used today.  They are not able to be recharged and should be disposed of through your local community battery recycling program. 

Nickel-Cadmium such as those used in cell phones and digital cameras, are rechargeable.  Once a Nickel-Cadmium battery is spent it needs to be recycled and are highly toxic if disposed of in a landfill. 

Nickel Metal Hydride are used in laptop computers.  This type battery is not toxic and can be easily disposed of.  They do, however, contain some parts which can be recycled.  Your local recycle center may or may not collect the nickel metal hydride batteries. 

Button Cell are used in hearing aids, calculators and watches.  They contain silver, mercury and other toxic elements.  They need to be disposed of properly. 

While battery recycling is widely available, the best environmental option is to use less batteries or at the least use rechargeable whenever possible.
 

There are some simple things you can do to reduce your need for batteries.  Some of these simple tips are:

• Turn off any battery-operated appliances when not in use
• Removefrom appliances if they are not going to be used for a long time.
• Do not mix old with new ones.
• Do not recharge a battery unless it is specifically marked rechargeable.
• Do not dispose of in a fire it may cause them to explode.
• Do not open battery casings

Do not insert batteries backwards into any device. Battery Recycling | Batteries Recycled

Recycling Bins
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