'Tis the battery-operated season

Get ready! Here come the toys that require batteries...along with the electronics and other household gee-gaws. But man, alkaline batteries are bad news for Mother Earth. The toxic metals contained in alkaline batteries, which ultimately end up in the landfill, may pose dangerous threats to the environment. Air and water pollution result when these metals are burned in the landfill, and lead and acid can leach into soil and water. Ideally, we should all be using rechargeable batteries whenever we can. They cost more, but ultimately you save more because they can be reused hundreds of times. (I am guilty here -- it is so convenient to toss a couple packs of Duracell coppertops in the shopping cart at Fred's -- but like anything, change takes effort. I believe we can change! A New Year's resolution, perhaps?)

Luckily, both alkaline and rechargeable batteries can be recycled locally. Any Radio Shack will accept rechargeable household batteries for no charge, which they send along to a 3rd party recycler. They do not accept alkaline batteries. Earth Protection Services in Tigard will accept both types of batteries; if you bring in a small handful of alkaline batteries they won't charge a fee, but a larger quantity will cost 80 cents per pound. (They also recycle dead electronic devices, televisions, tape players, etc.) Metro's Hazardous Waste facility in NW Portland will also accept alkaline batteries for no fee. So, there are some good options here! I found this Web site, Green Batteries, that sells all types of rechargeables. Have any other sources or tips for protecting the environment from evil, toxic batteries?

(Originally published on ReadySetMom.com)