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Eau Claire County Recycling Program
How & Where to Recycle Specific Materials
Household- Dry Cell Batteries
Motivated by state and federal law, technological improvements have reduced the toxic components such as mercury in many standard battery types such as alkalines. Common household alkaline batteries (AA, C, and D for example) can be disposed of in the trash.
Button batteries used in hearing aids and watches may be returned to jewelry stores and hearing aid businesses.
Rechargeable batteries can be recycled through retail stores where customers often purchase items which require nickel cadmium batteries. These batteries can be returned to the stores for recycling at no charge. Currently, the following area stores participate in this program:
Batteries Plus 315 E. Hamilton
Radio Shack Oakwood Mall
Radio Shack Shopko Plaza
Alkaline, lithium, mercury and button batteries can also be recycled through Clean Sweep,
Lead Acid or Automotive Batteries
Most retailers in Wisconsin who sell automotive batteries are required to accept a used one at no charge at the time of a new battery purchase. They may give credit towards the purchase of a new battery if buying a replacement at the same time. If not purchasing a battery, retailers may charge up to $3.00 for recycling of an old battery. Scrap yards, depending on the market price for lead, take automotive batteries and may give a small payment for the value of the metal.
Automotive, or lead acid batteries (LABs), account for over 70% of the 945,000 tons of lead produced each year by secondary lead smelters. This is the result of the consumption of nearly 80 million LABs every year for car and light truck use. The average battery contains 18 pounds of the metal.
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