Safe disposal of household batteries

Batteries Safe Disposal

Ah, where would we be without batteries? They power our cars, our devices, our kids’ toys, and so much more. In fact, Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year to power radios, toys, cellular phones, watches, laptop computers, and portable power tools. That is a whole lot of batteries! But what to do with them when they’ve used up? Throw them away? Recycle?

The truth is, the garbage can is not the best place for your used batteries. Batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when batteries are improperly disposed of. When incinerated, certain metals might be released into the air or can concentrate in the ash produced by the combustion process.

One way to reduce the number of batteries in the waste stream is to purchase rechargeable batteries. The main advantage of using rechargeable batteries is that it reduces the number of batteries that need to be produced and disposed of. However, safe disposal is needed for rechargeable batteries because 80% of them contain nickel cadmium, a carcinogen.

Recycling all batteries

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keeps heavy metals out of landfills and the air. Recycling saves resources because recovered plastic and metals can be used to make new batteries. Many states have regulations in place requiring battery recycling. In some areas, the local recycling agencies actually collect used batteries for recycling. In other areas where local recycling agencies do not offer collection services, you might have to get in touch with regional-based battery retailers who have collection schemes to get your used batteries recycled.

Battery fun fact: Fifty times more energy is needed to make batteries compared to the amount of energy the batteries can give out. So use your batteries carefully!

 

Easy Composting for Your Spring Garden

Composting

Interested in reducing your household waste? Consider composting! Composting might seem complicated and cumbersome, but it’s actually easier than it looks — and before you know it, you’ll have an excellent source of nutrients for your spring garden.

The fastest way to get finished compost for this year’s garden is to make an active, or “hot,” compost pile. By providing a steady supply of water and air to the pile, you’ll encourage the microorganisms that drive the composting process to work faster. Here are the five key steps for making compost in about 30 days.

1. Shred and chop.
Shred or chop materials as finely as you can before mixing them into the pile. For example, you can chop fallen leaves by running your lawn mower over them. The same strategy applies to kitchen scraps and the like — “the smaller, the better” is the rule for compost ingredients.

2. Mix dry browns and wet greens.
The two basic types of ingredients for making compost are those rich in carbon and those rich in nitrogen. Carbon-rich materials, or “dry browns,” include leaves, hay, and straw. Nitrogen-rich materials, or “wet greens,” include kitchen scraps and grass clippings; these work best when used sparsely and mixed in well so they don’t mat down. Your goal is to keep a fair mix of these materials throughout the pile.

3. Strive for size.
Build the pile at least 3 × 3 × 3 (or 4) feet so materials will heat up and decompose quickly. (Don’t make the pile too much bigger than that, though, or it will be hard to turn.) Unless you have this critical mass of materials, your compost pile can’t really get cooking. Check the pile a couple of days after it is built up—it should be hot in the middle, a sign that your microbial decomposers are working hard.

4. Add water as needed.
Make sure the pile stays moist, but not too wet. (It should feel like a damp sponge.) You may ned to add water occasionally. Or, if you live in a very wet climate, you may need to cover the pile with a tarp to keep it from becoming too soggy.

5. Keep things moving.
Moving your compost adds air to the mix. You can open up air holes by getting in there with a pitchfork. Even better, shift the entire pile over a few feet, bit by bit, taking care to move what was on the outside to the inside of the new pile, and vice versa. Or consider using a compost tumbler, a container that moves the materials for you when you turn it.

Do not compost meat, bones or fish scraps (they will attract pests), perennial weeds (they can be spread with the compost) or diseased plants. Do not include pet manures in compost that will be used on food crops. Banana peels, peach peels and orange rinds may contain pesticide residue, and should be kept out of the compost. Black walnut leaves should not be composted. Sawdust may be added to the compost, but should be mixed or scattered thinly to avoid clumping. Be sure the sawdust is clean, with no machine oil or chain oil residues from cutting equipment.

To gather kitchen wastes for your compost, keep a container with a lid and a handle under the sink. Consider using a stainless steel compost pail with air filter, or a ceramic model. If you don’t mind occasional smells, use an old ice-cream pail. Chop up any large chunks before you toss them in. When the container is full, take it out to your composter and toss in the contents.

With just a little effort, and a little savvy, you can have a wonderful mix of nutrient-rich compost ready in time for spring. Happy gardening!