RC & D urges residents to recycle batteries

Most of us have them – old batteries tucked away in a kitchen drawer, sitting on a workbench, or piled in a box in the garage. While it may seem harmless to toss an old battery in the trash, that small item can create a serious problem. Improper disposal has become a growing safety concern.

When batteries are crushed, punctured, or exposed to water in garbage trucks, transfer stations, or landfills, they can spark fires. Facilities across the country have reported increasing numbers of battery-related fires, many linked to lithium-ion batteries commonly found in cordless tools, rechargeable ho...