There are many sizes, shapes and varieties of household batteries in common use today. Alkaline batteries are popular because they have longer lives and are environmentally safer than other types. Rechargeables are less wasteful because they can be used over and over again. But they are also more toxic. Virtually all batteries contain at least some mercury or cadmium.

Why should I be concerned about mercury and cadmium?

Mercury is toxic to the human nervous system. Chronic breathing of mercury vapors can cause a range of physical symptoms, including inability to coordinate body movement and impairment of hearing, speech and vision. Exposure to mercury in other forms can lead to skin rashes and kidney damage. Cadmium exposure has been linked with kidney disease. Under certain conditions, batteries burned in waste-to-energy plants can release mercury to the air and water. Not even the best pollution control devices can capture all of the mercury all of the time. Mercury in the water "bioaccumulates" - that is, it builds up in concentration over time - in the tissue of fish, making them less healthful to eat frequently. Pregnant women who eat contaminated fish can pass mercury to their unborn children.

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What should I do with my "dead" batteries?

You should recycle nickel cadmium (nicad) rechargeables, all batteries that contain mercuric oxide (these come in all shapes and sizes) and "button" batteries commonly used in calculators, cameras, hearing aids and watches. Recycling is preferable to disposal for other types of batteries, too, although most alkaline batteries have a low mercury content and are safe to throw away.

Many retail outlets are affiliated with a national program started by the makers of nicads and will accept yours for recycling. For information, call 1-800-822-8837. Springfield Resource Recovery (413-785-5120) and Wheelabrator (800-682-0026) recycle "button" batteries from the communities served by waste-to-energy plants they operate. Wheelbrator also accepts nicad batteries for recycling.

Your community may also provide for battery recycling through rubbish pickups, at a dropoff center or by scheduling special household hazardous waste collections. The local health board or public works department should have details. If there are no recycling opportunities now, try to save your batteries until there are.

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What about commercial recycling services?

There are at least three companies in the Northeast that recycle all types of batteries:

• General Chemical Corp. of Framingham (508-872-5000)
• Global Recycling Technologies of Stoughton (617-341-6080), and
• Mercury Refining Co. of Albany, NY (800-833-3505).

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