RE: [GreenYes] Batteries

["Michele Raymond" <michele@raymond.com>]

13 states enacted battery laws -- many of them required takeback.
Then industry got the national bill passed.
I agree.
Michele

At 11:46 AM 4/11/02 -0500, Anne Morse wrote:
>It's true.  Alkalines are not "recycled".  Alkalines were a problem in the
>early 90's, when they had signficant levels of mercury in them, and that was
>why they were collected (and handled as hazardous waste).  Since then,
>however, the industry has gone to a 99% or better mercury-free alkaline, so
>the need is not there.  We tell our folks not to bring them in, but when
>they do bring them in we accept them, and then just put them in the trash.
>
>The problem batteries today (insofar as disposal is concerned) are the
>rechargables, the preponderance of which still have substantial heavy metals
>in them ( as in nickel, cadmium, lead).  These are the batteries we want out
>of the waste stream, and are the targets of the Rechargeable Battery
>Recycling Corporation's (RBRC) recovery campaign.  Visit their site at
>www.rbrc.org to see about the recent improvements to their collection
>programs, which make retail takeback and municipal participation free and
>very easy.  Also posted there is an EPA Enforcement Alert that provides
>important background information that we should all be aware of.  The RBRC
>is funded by 90% of the battery companies in the country (we should be
>challenging the 10% who haven't agreed to be part of the solution).
>
>One final tidbit about how the mercury came to be removed from the
>alkalines.  The campaign to reduce the toxicity started in one state, with a
>law being passed that prohibited the sale in that state of alkalines with
>mercury in them.  Thereafter, as other states began moving toward similar
>prohibitions, the battery industry realized it was in their interests to
>have one national standard.  By 1996 and with the passage of the 1996
>Battery Act, mercury-free alkalines became the national standard.
>
>Lesson learned:  state action is powerful.
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Ilana Gauss [mailto:igauss@co.sanmateo.ca.us]
>Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 7:25 PM
>To: greenyes@grrn.org
>Subject: [GreenYes] Batteries
>
>
>A message from Jill Boone of the County of San Mateo RecycleWorks:
>
>Recently, I've been told that the places that are accepting batteries
>are not *recycling* the alkalines. I'm interested to hear about any
>places that you use or refer people to that take the alkalines
>and if you've checked into what is being done with them....
>
>I'm posting to this list as I am looking for a local solution that we
>can promote and/or use. Thanks.
>
>
>
>
>
>Ilana Gauss
>Recycling Outreach Specialist
>County of San Mateo RecycleWorks
>Hotline: (888) 442-2666   Phone: (650) 599-1468
>www.RecycleWorks.org
>
>3 R's Tip of the Week:
>Buy fewer disposable products. We know disposables are convenient. But with
>the environment, convenience can take its toll.
>
>******************************************
>To post to the greenyes list,
>email to: greenyes@grrn.org
>
>Subscription information for
>this list is available here:
>http://www.grrn.org/general/greenyes.html
>******************************************
>
>
>
>******************************************
>To post to the greenyes list,
>email to: greenyes@grrn.org
>
>Subscription information for
>this list is available here:
>http://www.grrn.org/general/greenyes.html
>******************************************

Michele Raymond
Publisher
Recycling Laws International/ State Recycling Laws Update
5111 Berwyn Rd. Ste 115 College Park, MD 20740)
301/345-4237   Fax 345-4768
http://www.raymond.com

******************************************
To post to the greenyes list,
email to: greenyes@grrn.org

Subscription information for
this list is available here:
http://www.grrn.org/general/greenyes.html
******************************************