Recycling Batteries, Light Bulbs, and Clothing

North America’s first and largest battery stewardship program—is a non-profit organization that collects and recycles batteries at no cost for the Town. 2014 commemorated Call2Recycle’s 20th anniversary in battery collection and recycling. Since 1996, Call2Recycle has diverted more than 100 million pounds (39 million kilograms) of batteries and cellphones from the solid waste stream and established over 34,000 collection sites throughout the U.S. and Canada. Call2Recycle is on a mission to keep all rechargeable batteries and cellphones out of the solid waste stream and recycle them for other uses. Anyone can be part of this effort by collecting these items and taking them to a nearby participating collection site for recycling.

Alkaline Manganese Batteries
Where it's at: Alkaline batteries (A, AA, AAA) are used in everything from cameras and flashlights to remote controls.

What to do: In Brookline we place these in with our regular trash. This is partly due to the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act passed in 1996 that phased out the use of mercury in alkaline batteries, making them less of an issue when disposed in landfills.

Silver Oxide Batteries
Where it's at: This is the more common form of the button cell battery, which you'll usually find in calculators, hearing aids, and wristwatches. In addition to their small size, button cells are known for a long storage life and the ability to work well in low temperatures.

Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Batteries
Where it's at: One of the newest forms of rechargeable technology is the Li-ion battery, which is commonly found in cellular phones and consumer electronics.

What to do: Recycle these batteries at the Municipal Service Center at 870 Hammond St. or the Town Hall 4th floor DPW Office front desk. Follow the instructions on the box before placing them in the box. 

Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) Batteries
Where they're at: Ni-Cd batteries are the inexpensive rechargeable form of alkaline batteries. They can be recharged hundreds of times to avoid disposing of batteries and are, for the most part, interchangeable with alkaline batteries.

What to do: Recycle these batteries at the Town Hall 4th floor DPW Office front desk. Follow the instructions on the box before placing them in the box.