Today’s article contains information on three topics that I have received questions on recently. In the next few months, my plans are to write detailed articles dealing with each of these topics. They are batteries, medications, plastic bottles, and their caps. I believe a review of these topics would be beneficial.
Are batteries recyclable? Some are and some aren’t. The most common alkaline batteries, AA, AAA, C, D, and the like, are not recyclable in Fillmore County. They can be sent with your landfill garbage. The 9-volt alkaline battery, like the one in your smoke alarm, needs a little more attention. I have mentioned this in previous articles and I will mention it again in future articles. These batteries have been known to start fires if not stored or disposed of properly. When storing 9-volt batteries, keep them in the original packaging. Do not allow these batteries to come in contact with each other once out of the package. The posts have been known to cause sparks if a connection is made. It may be a good idea to wrap a “dead” 9-volt that isn’t really dead in tape and place in a zip lock bag before putting it in your landfill garbage.
Hearing aid batteries, all disc or button batteries, as well all rechargeable batteries are to be recycled. They are not meant to be landfilled, buried in your back yard, or drizzled down a gopher hole. Do not put them in your recycling container. They must be brought to the Resource Recovery Center in Preston or to a business that will accept them for recycling. Wireless phones, cameras, weed eaters, and most wireless tools use rechargeable batteries. Used hearing aid batteries should not be kept loose in a container touching other hearing aid batteries. They too can become hot and ignite the container. Before placing the battery in a container prior to taking it to be recycled, put a piece of tape on the front and back of the battery. This may sound like a waste of time and tape, but battery connections should be avoided.
Unwanted, unneeded, or outdated medicine must be disposed of properly. You really don’t want them lying around the house. As with the batteries, do not simply bury, burn, or flush them down the toilet. Some stores will take them back, but very few do. The following method works quite well. Place the medication, solid or liquid in a laundry detergent bottle. Take the bottle outside in case there is a chemical reaction that would release dangerous fumes. Add a cup or two of water, some liquid soap, or vinegar and allow the pills to dissolve. Then add a cup or two of potting soil, dirt, or kitty litter (used, if you have it). Place the cap on the bottle and shake it a bit to get everything mixed up. It is now ready to be placed in your landfill garbage. Every year many people are poisoned by someone else’s medication. The reason for making this nasty mixture is to make it more or less impossible to be consumed by most living things.
All plastic bottles and jugs are quite recyclable, but here in Fillmore County, the caps are not. When you have finished enjoying the contents of that bottle or jug, rinse it out and deposit it in your recycling bin and throw the cap into your landfill garbage. And, in case you are wondering, number five plastic is still not accepted in Fillmore County.
By the way, I have moved. My office is now in the Fillmore County Office Building. My e-mail address is still lpaulson@co.fillmore.mn.us.
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