How are you legally supposed to dispose of batteries?

I'm referring to the batteries that you replace in electronic devices: flashlights, mouse batteries, radios, digital cameras, etc.

Thank you for your concern with the environment we all share. There are many TYPES of batteries used in the devices you listed. Their most favorable disposal VARIES.

"The most COMMON TYPES used in such devices, (alkaline, and zinc-carbon batteries), can be safely disposed of with normal household waste. (Quoted from sources 1 and 2) An environmentally beneficial and economically feasible recycling process has not yet been developed for alkaline batteries."

" Duracell is leading an international battery industry effort to develop such a technology. It is important to recognize that collecting, transporting and disposing of household batteries in a concentrated mass can create safety concerns. Discarded batteries are often not completely "dead." Concentrating used batteries in a container can bring these "live" batteries into electrical contact with one another, creating a safety risk. Any collection program must be organized to minimize such risk."

"Until battery recycling becomes a reality, disposing of small quantities of used household batteries (such as alkaline and zinc carbon batteries) with normal waste is far preferable to disposing of concentrated quantities. You should consult with your local civic leaders regarding recycling regulations in your community." (especially in Hennepin county, Minnesota)

For RECHARGEABLE types, there is a national program. They not only want to recycle your cell phone batteries, but will recycle the ENTIRE PHONE. The following paragraph is from their web page. (source #3)

<quote> "Through our national program, Call2Recycle鈩? the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) can help you recycle your used portable rechargeable batteries and old cell phones."

Also, you can bring rechargeable batteries to any Radio Shack, (Or MANY other electronics stores) for disposal / recycling. (source 4)

One EXCEPTION to the rule of rechargeables needing to be recycled, is the NiMH rechargeable types. <quote> "Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are classified by the federal government as a non-hazardous waste and are safe for disposal in the normal municipal waste stream.> (source 5)