Listen to the podcast.

Discarded Batteries

WHEN YOU TAKE A BATTERY OUT OF YOUR WATCH OR DIGITAL CAMERA, DO YOU RECYCLE IT?  UNFORTUNATELY, MANY PEOPLE DO NOT, AS YOU’LL HEAR ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

BATTERIES CONTAIN HEAVY METALS THAT CAN BE TOXIC TO THE ENVIRONMENT, SO THEY MUST BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.  YET A STUDY BY CANADA’S ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY SHOWS THAT MOST CANADIANS THROW THEM IN THE TRASH.  DUNCAN BURY, HEAD OF PRODUCT POLICY, EXPLAINS.

BURY: THE RECYCLING RATE FOR ALL OF THE BATTERIES, WE ESTIMATE WAS ONLY TWO POINT SEVEN PERCENT OF WHAT WAS DISCARDED.

THE RECOVERY RATES FOR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES WERE ALSO LOW, DESPITE THE FACT THAT RETAILERS ACROSS CANADA AND THE U-S PROVIDE COLLECTION SERVICES THROUGH THE “CALL TO RECYCLE” INITIATIVE.

BURY SAYS HIS AGENCY IS THEREFORE TRYING TO INCREASE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM - TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT OR TO FIND A LOCAL DROP OFF SITE, LOG ON TO R-B-R-C DOT ORG.

To learn more, visit the Call 2 Recycle program.

To access the Environment Canada study, click here.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org