Battery Disposal

[TheFlash]

While playing with my seven (7) Surefires last night (still amazed at how I went from none to seven so quickly), I thought of a question to ask my fellow forumites:

What is the best way to dispose of old/drained CR123 batteries?
(e.g. Just throw 'em away, go to a special recycling center, etc. ???)

I'm not a 'tree hugger', but since they are Lithium batteries, they could pose an ecological threat...

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Sharp]

I simply dump 'em in the trash can.

Richard

 

[2watt]

From what I've heard, NiCads are hurtful to the environment whereas the Lithium aren't. I found this in sales of new cell phones. New Lithium-ion batts are environmentally friendly.

 

[TheFlash]

Thanks Andy.
Looks like pitching 'em in the trash will work just fine for Mother Nature...

-Mike

 

[Kiessling]

another related question:
I am alway wondering what would happen if the almost dead cells will short out in the garbage, meaning discharging the remaining energy in a short circuit.
will my garbage burn? is this a real risk or am I just paranoid?
bernhard

 

[2watt]

I sometimes put 9v batts in a film container or put tape over the contacts. Normal 123s or c/d cells-- I think would be very hard to short out. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

 

[Kiessling]

hm ... depends on what else is on the garbage ... think of steel wool ... electric bass strings ...
bernhard

 

[Kristofg]

Aren't there any containers to collect old batteries in at the electronics stores? Every store here has such a special container and you just dump your used batteries in there so that they can be recycled as a certain amount of them contain heavy metals and are very bad for the environment.