CVSWMD » Electronic Waste

Vermont Button Cell Battery Take-Back Program

will — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:05:41 +0000

The following pharmacies within the CVSWMD are participating in a Button Cell Battery Take-Back Program with the state of Vermont. Residents can bring button cell batteries to these locations for safe disposal at no cost.

Please note: This is for button cell batteries ONLY.

Residents can still safely dispose of button cell batteries at CVSWMD Household Hazardous Waste collections, but this is a convenient year-round option.

Brooks Pharmacy, Barre — 476-4311
The Medicine Shoppe, Barre — 479-3381
Harry’s Discount Pharmacy, Barre — 479-2521
Kinney Drugs, Barre — 476-6659
Rite Aid Pharmacy, Montpelier — 223-4787
Northfield Pharmacy, Northfield — 485-4771
Brooks Pharmacy, Northfield — 485-8584
Brooks Pharmacy, Montpelier — 223-3551

Which button cell batteries contain mercury?

The following button cell batteries contain mercury, although almost all button cell batteries made in the U.S. contain at least a little bit of mercury:

alkaline manganese
silver oxide
zinc-air
mercuric-oxide

What kinds of items run on button cell batteries?

Watches
Hearing Aids
Calculators
Pacemakers
Digital thermometers
Bicycle odometer/speedometer
Some children’s toys and games

Battery Basics

will — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:00:47 +0000

About 3 billion household batteries are used and discarded in the U.S. each year, creating more than 125,000 tons of battery garbage.

Reduce the amount of battery waste you generate by avoiding battery-required items when possible, and investing in rechargeable batteries. But once you’re done with those batteries–whether they’re regular batteries or rechargeables–disposing of them properly is essential.

Household batteries may contain heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, and lead. Improper disposal may provide a means for these heavy metals to be released into the air, groundwater, lakes, and streams via landfill runoff and incineration.

Recycling and Disposal by Type

Alkaline, Manganese, Carbon-zinc, and Zinc-air

Used for: flashlights, calculators, toys, clocks, smoke alarms, remote controls, garage door openers, transistor radios
Sizes: AAA, AA, C, D, and some in 6V, 9V
Proper Disposal: Place in trash. Spent rechargeable alkaline batteries can also be disposed with household trash. Please note: Alkaline batteries manufactured before 1996 may contain higher levels of mercury; please bring them to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection.

Button

Used for: watches, hearing aids, toys, remote controls
Sizes: vary, but resemble “buttons” in shape
Proper Disposal: These batteries contain mercury and silver. See VT Button Cell Battery Takeback Program for free, safe, year-round disposal. Or bring them to a seasonal CVSWMD Household Hazardous Waste collection.

Lithium

Used for: cameras, calculators, computer memory back-up, sneakers, greeting cards.
Sizes: 3V, 6V, 3V button; usually has “lithium” label on the battery.
Proper Disposal: Bring to a seasonal CVSWMD Household Hazardous Waste Collection.
Encourage Greeting Card Battery Take Back! Contact the companies you buy greeting cards from and ask them to take back their cards that include batteries for safe recycling and disposal.

Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd or Ni-Cad) Rechargeable and Lithium Ion Rechargeable

Used for: flashlights, toys, cell phones, power tools, computer packs
Sizes: AAA, AA, C, D, 6V, 9V
Proper Disposal: Both batteries contain metals and are hazardous wastes. Recycle for free at the District office — 137 Barre St., Montpelier. Or, dispose of safely at a seasonal Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Nickel Metal Hydride (NI-MH) Rechargeable

Used for: cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders
Proper Disposal: Recycle for free at the CVSWMD office — 137 Barre St., Montpelier. Please note: Battery must be 2 lbs. or smaller for collection boxes. If larger than 2 lbs., call the District for assistance. Or, dispose of safely at a seasonal Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Small Sealed Lead Acid (SLA Rechargeable) and Lead Acid Car Batteries

Used for: video cameras, power tools, metal detectors, cameras; large batteries for automobiles.
Sizes: Multiples of 2 volts – 2V, 6V, 12V; and large car batteries
Proper Disposal: Lead acid batteries are hazardous. Recycle small (less than 2 lbs.) sealed lead acid batteries for free at the District office — 137 Barre St., Montpelier. Or, dispose of safely at a seasonal Household Hazardous Waste Collection.
Lead acid car batteries: Many auto repair shops, auto parts stores, and metal salvage yards will accept automotive batteries for recycling. Please contact them directly.

Manufacturer Take-Back

will — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:51:30 +0000

Encouraging manufacturer take-back programs is one of the best steps for long-term management of the growing e-waste problem.

The U.S. continues to lag behind Europe in requiring manufacturers to take responsibility for the waste their products produce. Municipal and state government have borne the responsibility of managing this ever-growing hazardous waste without any financial support from the companies that created it. But Electronics Take-Back programs are beginning to make some strides and some manufacturers are jumping on board early on.

Some states, including California, Maine, Maryland, Washington, and now VERMONT!, have signed laws requiring some level of manufacturer responsibility. Vermont Senate bill S.77 was signed into law on April 19, 2010. This Vermont law will regulate the collection and disposal of electronic waste and will reduce both the solid waste and the financial burden it places on municipalities and citizens to cover the costs of safe disposal. This is great news! It will go into effect in July 2011. Until then the CVSWMD will continue to offer fee-based collection events for residents of member towns.

Take-Back programs currently target computers and TVs, but could evolve to include all electronics on the market that are manufactured with the kinds of materials that make them a risk for disposal–heavy metals like lead, fire retardants, mercury, and more.

Help encourage manufacturer take-back programs!

Contact your legislators for an update on additional take-back legislation efforts in VT,
Contact the manufacturers whose products you buy and request more aggressive take-back programs, and/or
Get involved in the national effort. See www.computertakeback.com and www.takebackmytv.com.

Greener Electronics

will — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:49:56 +0000

It’s all the hazardous components that make electronics so toxic. Reuse helps keep good electronics in use, while recycling programs help keep them out of the landfill when their useful life is through. But, all of the materials that go into making electronics and the energy used to manufacture and run them come at a high cost.

Buy Greener!

There are a few Web sites to help you select environmentally preferable computers. One site offers a purchasing tool called the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). It’s designed to help purchasers evaluate, compare, and select desktop computers, laptops, and monitors based on their environmental attributes, including the elimination or reduction of added lead, mercury, chromium, flame retardants and plasticizers, the use of postconsumer plastic, and much more. See www.EPEAT.net for more information.

Other help can be found via www.greenerchoices.org. This Consumer Reports site has an Electronics Reuse & Recycling Center which offers information about e-waste issues, maintenance and upgrading tips, and tips for buying new.

Also check out the Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics.

Reduce the Juice, too!

While you’re considering greener electronics purchases, also consider the energy all of your electronics consume and how you might begin to reduce their environmental impact.

Consumer electronics account for 11% of residential electricity, according to a Consumer Electronics Association Study. With that electricity coming from a wide mix of sources — including coal burning plants, nuclear plants, methane generation at landfills, hydro, and a small percentage of wind and solar power — that 11% can be a real contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Electronics Recycling

will — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:48:54 +0000

Recycling electronics keeps all of the resources that go into making the equipment in use, and keeps all of the toxic components in the devices out of the landfill. Electronics contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, plus fire retardants and a wide variety of chemicals. For example, one average TV contains between four and eight pounds of lead, and both lead and mercury are known to damage human nervous systems.

E-waste collected for recycling.

Where can you recycle electronics?

The CVSWMD will hold the following e-waste recycling collections in 2010 to serve District member communities. Please note: Collection fees apply.

Month of June — Tunbridge Transfer Station. Saturdays, 9am to 3pm
August 14 –National Life parking lot in Montpelier. 9am to 1pm. Also collecting books and textiles at this event. Fees apply for e-waste, but books and textiles will be accepted for free.
August 28 — Hardwick Town Garage, in conjunction with the CVSWMD Household Hazardous Waste Collection. Hours: 9am to 1pm
September 11 — Bradford Town Garage, in conjunction with the CVSWMD Household Hazardous Waste Collection. Hours: 9am to 1pm

E-waste recycling is also available via the following businesses. Please contact the businesses directly for fee information and directions to their stores/facilities:

Casella (Montpelier) — 223-7045
Computer Barn (Barre) — www.computerbarnltd.net; 802-476-6800
Small Dog Electronics (Waitsfield and S. Burlington) — www.smalldog.com; 800-511-MACS

Electronics Reuse

will — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:46:21 +0000

Keeping electronics in use as long as possible is the best way to reduce all the e-waste that’s piling up in basements, attics, recycling centers, and landfills around the country.

There are three ways to do so:

1. Upgrade (vs. replace) existing systems

New operating systems and software sometimes necessitate the purchase of new computers. But sometimes we just need to upgrade our existing system to get a bit more life out of it. Some more RAM or a new hard drive might do the trick. Upgrading will keep all of the resources that went into making your computer in use longer.

Wondering how to get an upgrade done? Call computer dealers for service recommendations, or see the CVSWMD Reuse Business Database for some of the businesses in the region.

2. Re-think whether you really need new.

Sure, it’s tempting to want the most up-to-date cell phone, digital camera, or other electronic device with all the bells and whistles. But before you rush out to buy it, really think about why you want it — and if you really need it.

Have your needs changed since you purchased the phone or camera you have now?
If you really only need the new feature once or even occasionally, could you borrow the device from a friend or locate a business that might offer the service? For example, print and copy shops offer scanning and printing services that might reduce your need for those electronic items.
Businesses that sell quality used electronics might also have what you need.
TV converter boxes take your analog TV to HD, so there’s no need to run out and buy a new TV. Converter boxes are sold where TVs are sold.

3. Donate or sell usable electronics to those who can use them.

Just because you can’t use the computer system, scanner, or camera anymore, doesn’t mean it’s not useful to someone else. Contact local schools, literacy programs, and non-profits to see if they can use it.

A variety of online electronics sales options now exist. Check out the following companies, all of which guarantee that the items you sell or donate to them will be reused or responsibly recycled.

Or, search the CVSWMD Reuse Business Database for area businesses that buy and sell quality reuseable goods of all kinds, including electronics.

Electronic Waste

will — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:43:36 +0000

Electronic waste — or e-waste as it’s commonly called — is a growing solid waste problem. The ever-increasing volume of electronic products, from computers and cell phones to digital cameras and i-pods, means an ever-increasing volume of waste. So many electronic products are intentionally designed for a short life span that two to three years out of a computer system is a “good deal” these days.

So, what can we do? The following five steps can help:

More than 54 TONS of electronics were recycled through the District’s program from July 2008 through June 2009.