Marjaneh Zarrehparvar: Recycling Batteries
(SF Dept. of Environment)

Batteries are an important part of our every day lives. They keep our cell phones ringing, our computers computing and our cars running, but when their short lives have ended, it is important to properly dispose of them in order to reduce the amount of pollutants in our environment.

There are a variety of batteries used for different types of equipment. Alkaline batteries, such as Energizer and Duracell, are the most common. These come in AA, C and D sizes and are used in appliances, such as clocks, flashlights, smoke alarms, radios, remote controls and power tools. Lithium batteries are used to power digital cameras; nickel-cadmium batteries are found in cordless phones; and lead-acid batteries are used in cars.  

Batteries are containers filled with chemicals that react to produce electrons. These electrons emit from the battery, producing a current that flows into the appliance being powered. This chemical stew - called electrolyte - is usually a liquid or gel and is made of highly toxic chemicals.

Other components of batteries contain heavy metals, which are basic elements that cannot be broken down or made less toxic. Some heavy metals that are used in the manufacturing of batteries include lead, zinc, mercury and nickel. These metals are not only toxic to the environment, but can pose harm to human health if people come into direct contact with them. 

Although batteries only account for a small percentage of the garbage we produce, they are responsible for a significant amount of chemicals found in our environment. If thrown out as municipal solid waste, they can contaminate our air, soil and water supply when the chemicals break down. If batteries are incinerated, they can release toxic chemicals into the air, which can also contaminate the soil when it falls back to Earth. If batteries are buried in a landfill, the chemicals inside can filter into the groundwater supply. 

Here are a few tips to help you reduce the amount of batteries that end up in landfills and incinerators where they can pose harm to our environment:

• Use rechargeable batteries whenever possible. Some appliances for which you can use rechargeable batteries include CD-players, cordless phones, and toys;

• Conserve battery use. Shut off appliances that are not in use and remove batteries from appliances that will not be used for some time;

• Recycle batteries. There are more than 70 sites in San Francisco that accept household-type batteries for recycling, including many local hardware stores and all San Francisco Walgreens stores.

To find a drop-off site near you, contact SF Environment at (415) 355-3756 or visit  www.sfenvironment.org, where you can also find out about the disposal of other toxic or hazardous materials, including paints, pesticides, household cleaners, pharmaceuticals, fluorescent lamps and mercury thermometers.

Special Note on Phone Books

The telephone company is now in the process of distributing the latest edition of the residential telephone directory and Yellow Pages.  If you have a mixed recycling collection at home, or at your office, you can put your old phone books in the cart with the rest of your recyclables. You can also take phone books to the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council's facility at 780 Frederick St. or the SF Community Recyclers at Geary Boulevard and Webster Street. If you have a large number of phone books to recycle, call your recycling collection company, Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling, at 626-4000; or Sunset Scavenger, at 330-1300.

Marjaneh Zarrehparvar runs SF Environment's household hazardous waste reduction programs. For more information, call (415) 355-3700 or visit the website at www.sfenvironment.com.