Baldwin Park Businesses Sign on to Collect Used Batteries for Recycling

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Since last year, businesses across the San Gabriel Valley, including those in Baldwin Park, started accepting used household batteries.

The available collection locations dropped a notch when . But two local businesses have since agreed to take over as battery collection locations. 

 and are now part of a pilot program to increase the locations where consumers can legally dispose of household batteries.

Batteries have been banned from California landfills since 2006 because they contain metals such as zinc and cadmium, which are used to make products including electronics. The batteries are believed to degrade soil, contaminate groundwater and produce other environmental hazards.

The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) received a $395,966 grant from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to, in part, facilitate a battery recycling program.

This project has already recycled over 6,000 pounds of batteries.

Los Angeles County residents can find the recycling location closest to them on this interactive map site.

The SGVCOG and the California Product Stewardship Council provided these instructions on recycling:

"Any household batteries (rechargeable or alkaline under 11 lbs.) and cell phones can be dropped off at any location. Batteries accepted include standard AAA-D alkaline, and rechargeable batteries, which can be found in many products including digital cameras, cordless phones, two-way radios, wireless keyboards and cordless power tools."

For more information about the battery recycling program or to find a location near you, go to www.SGVCOG.org/batteryrecycling.