Did you know that the med center campus recycles single use alkaline batteries?
The program actually has been in existence for a little more than a year, and so far the campus has collected more than 2,200 pounds of batteries (literally a ton of batteries), equal in weight to a dromedary camel. Your efforts mean that a lot of toxic metals will be kept out of our soil and water.
|
LIVEGREEN |
by Melanie Stewart |
Did you know that there’s a right and wrong way to recycle batteries on campus?
Here’s what you need to know:
You can:
- Place all single use (alkaline, AAA, AA, C, D, 9V) batteries that were used on the med center campus in battery-recycling bins.
- Recycle leaking or corroded batteries only if they are placed in a clear plastic bag prior to being placed in the bin.
- Tag all rechargeable batteries (even if they look like single use alkaline batteries) that were used on the med center campus, and contact Chemical Safety for pickup. They cannot be recycled in these containers.
- Take all batteries from your home to Batteries Plus for free recycling. Contact individual store locations first. Please do not bring them to campus.
- Place electrical tape or a cap over 9V batteries if you think they still have a charge and might arc.
- Contact LiveGreen with any battery recycling questions or comments. Or for more information check out the single use battery recycling portion of our website.
Please do not:
- Bring batteries from home. Doing so risks the future of this program, as the med center pays to recycle its batteries.
- Place corroded or leaking batteries directly into the bin. When they are prepared for pick up, the corrosion can become airborne and therefore hazardous to our wonderful volunteers. We don’t want that, now do we?
- Place watch or button batteries in the bin. These cannot be recycled here but can go to Batteries Plus with your batteries from home.
Omaha does not require that batteries be recycled, so we appreciate all of you being willing to do so. Chemical Safety is not requiring this under its official mandate, but is providing support for collection. LiveGreen thanks all of you for your efforts and compliance that allow this program to continue.