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Garbage battery idea
I remember learning to maintain the car battery with my dad. We would careful pry open the caps and check the water level of the individual cells. He warned me about the hydrochloric acid inside. Then in high school chemistry I watched HCl do its deteriorating work on various materials. That stuff is awful! I’ve heard stories of people burying these dangerous things in their backyards – I’m assuming that is not true of you.
Batteries have gotten so small that it is easy to discount their harm to our environment. I’ve chosen to properly dispose of hydro-chloride, nickel-cadium, lithium, and every other -ide and -ium I come across. The work to properly dispose of batteries can seem inconvenient. But I have an idea that has worked well for me as I have strived to take care of this world God has made for us. So here’s what to do with those garbage batteries replaced in your smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, thermostats, flashlights, cell phones, and other home electronics.
On my workbench I have a small cardboard box labeled “garbage batteries.” Every used battery is tossed there and when the box starts getting full I take it to Lowes where they have a recycle bin for batteries. Their no hassle drop-off means you walk in, drop off, walk out. Time spent – less than 2 minutes in the store. I know some companies (i.e. ElectroImpact in Mukilteo) recycle dangerous materials often found around the house as well. Find a small shoe box, label it, and set it on your workbench or dryer or under the kitchen sink. Agree as a family to keep them out of the garbage and out of the ground. And take joy knowing this small thing is an act of worship and thanksgiving to the Creator of this world.Right now my wife and I are talking about how to reduce the hundreds of plastic Safeway and Haggen’s bags collecting under our kitchen sink. Hmm…
