Title

Local Government Household Battery Collection Programs: Costs And Benefits

Keywords

Collection program; Dry cell battery; Heavy metal; Household hazardous waste

Abstract

Nearly three billion dry-cell household batteries are discarded in the municipal waste stream annually. While the mercury content of newer batteries has been reduced, older batteries and the accumulated total of mercury and cadmium, as well as other metals in the newer batteries still constitute a potential health risk. Many communities have initiated collection programs to remove this source of contamination from the municipal waste stream, but most have not. Fourteen states have enacted legislation regulating the disposal of household batteries, while nine states require the collection of rechargeable batteries. This article describes the potential health risks associated with continued disposal and incineration of household dry-cell batteries, reviews a sampling of existing municipal collection programs in US communities, and examines the costs and benefits and program options of collection programs. © 1995.

Publication Date

1-1-1995

Publication Title

Resources, Conservation and Recycling

Volume

15

Issue

1

Number of Pages

1-19

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1016/0921-3449(95)00025-E

Socpus ID

0029379868 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/0029379868

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