Belmont - Batteries are everywhere, from your house, your vehicle, your telephone, your watch, all the way to the landfill. Everyone knows where to purchase batteries, but how many people know the proper disposal method for batteries?
There are two different main types of batteries, single-use and rechargeable and each type comes in different chemistries. Single-use battery chemistry includes alkaline, zinc-carbon, lithium, and silver oxide. Recharge-able battery chemistry includes nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), lithium-ion (Li-ion), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Nickle-Zink (Ni-Zn) and Lead Acid (Pb). Except for Lead Acid batteries, these are all sealed batteries. Lead Acid batteries can be either sealed or unsealed (wet cell or flooded). Unsealed Lead Acid batteries are most often found in vehicular applications, such as motor vehicles, farm equipment, and heavy equipment. These batteries have removable caps to allow for the addition or replacement of the electrolyte solution. Information regarding battery chemistry can be found on the battery itself, the product containing the battery or the original packaging for the battery.
Each type and battery chemistry has different disposal requirements. Single-Use Batteries: Alkaline and zinc carbon batteries do not contain any hazardous materials and may be disposed of with your household waste. All other single-use batteries contain hazardous materials and should be disposed of at a hazardous waste collection. Allegany County has one Household Hazardous Waste Collection every year, and you can contact Tim Palmiter, Allegany County Recycling Coordinator, at 585-268-7272 for information on this program.
Rechargeable Batteries: The New York State Rechargeable Battery Law was signed into law on December 10, 2010. This law requires manufacturers of covered batteries to fund the collection and recycling of these batteries and makes it illegal for any person to dispose of these batteries in the trash. It also requires any NYS retailer who sells rechargeable batteries, this includes both individual batteries and products containing rechargeable batteries, to accept rechargeable batteries and products containing them for recycling from NYS residents. Retailers of rechargeable batteries must accept all covered batteries, regardless of where the battery was purchased. This law covers all rechargeable batteries with the exception of batteries or battery packs weighing over 25 pounds, batteries used as the principle power source for a vehicle, batteries used for storage from alternative power sources, such as solar, wind or hydro-powered generators, and backup batteries that are an integral component of electronic devices.
While some cellular devices have removable batteries that can be recycled separately, many have non-removable batteries. NYS has enacted the NYS Wireless Telephone Recycling Act which requires all wireless telephone service suppliers and any retailer who sells wireless telephones or their service plans to accept, at no charge, up to ten used wireless telephones from any person during normal business hours or to offer shipping of used wireless telephones to a recycling program.
Allegany County accepts, at all its Recycling Centers, lead-acid batteries for recycling, at no charge to County residents. The recycling of these batteries helps to offset the cost of solid waste collection and disposal within the County. For more information on battery disposal or any other program mentioned, please contact Tim Palmiter, Allegany County Recycling Coordinator, at 585-268-7282.
