Eco-Friendly Living
Natural and organic products and services that create a
minimal or positive impact on the environment
Recycling Batteries by Penny Cole

Many batteries we use every day contain chemicals that are hazardous to the environment.  To
reduce the possibility of contaminating our soil and water, read the labels and buy batteries that
have little or no mercury.  Use rechargeable batteries and recycle them when possible.  

Also, if you can’t recycle the battery, proper disposal will help protect our environment.  For
instance, if you have a lawn mower battery that is old, don’t throw it away.  Lowe’s on Prospect
Avenue in Champaign will take used up lawn mower batteries.  Just take them to the Customer
Service counter.

To find out how you can properly dispose of batteries or where you can recycle them, see the
following websites:

Earth 911:  http://earth911.org/recycling/battery-recycling
Environment, Health and Safety Online:  http://ehso.com/ehshome/batteries.php
Eco-Friendly Living:  Recycling CFL Bulbs by Penny Cole

We are being encouraged to replace our inefficient incandescent light bulbs with more efficient,
longer-lasting fluorescent bulbs called compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). However, people
should be aware that all fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, a toxic material
that can pollute the landfills and can also be harmful to people and animals if a bulb were to
break in the home.

Instead of throwing CFLs in the trash, where they can break and cause contamination, you can
take burnt out compact fluorescent bulbs to one of the following free drop-off locations in
Champaign for proper disposal and recycling:

  • Home Depot, 820 W. Bloomington Rd., Champaign, 356-2629.  There is a bin  located by
    the Returns Register.  Place the bulb in a plastic bag that is provided  and put in the bin.
  • Tepper Electric, 608 S. Neil St., Champaign, 356-3755.  

So what precautions should you take when using CFLs?  It is a good idea to be careful how you
store CFLs and to avoid using them in lamps that can easily be knocked over.  If a bulb breaks,
shut off the heating/air conditioner, evacuate and air out the room, and use protective equipment
and disposable wipes when cleaning up.  Place broken bulbs and cleaning material in a sealed
plastic bag or a glass jar with a lid for disposal.  For more details, download the following pdf file.  
A link to this file is located at www.lotusrg.com.
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/lighting/cfls/downloads/CFL_Cleanup_and_Disposal.pdf