Recycle Those Batteries

To the Editor:

I am a seventh grade student at Newtown Middle School, and I’m doing a project on recycling batteries. When we throw a battery in the garbage can, we don’t think twice about it. But truthfully, it can seriously harm the environment. Today almost all batteries, especially primary batteries, are mercury- or cadmium-free. But heavy metals are still a big part of a battery makeup. Those metals might cause damage in the environment if disposed in large quantities. For this reason, batteries containing these harmful substances have been collected and recovered separately since 1988, according to a voluntary agreement of the trade and the battery industry. Also, the battery industry is working on the development of alternatives in the aim to replace mercury, cadmium, and lead whenever possible. Additional new battery technologies are in an advanced state of development.

These are some of the new things used to help recycle batteries and help the environment but you can help, too. In Newtown, the recycling center no longer collects household batteries, but does continue to collect rechargeable batteries for recycling. On June 2–6, a box will be placed in the Main Offices at the Newtown Middle School, Reed Intermediate School, and Hawley School to collect used household batteries. Please recycle your old batteries and help the environment!

Thank you,

Casey Day

2 Crowsnest Lane, Sandy Hook                                      May 27, 2003