Vehicle and household batteries contain toxic heavy metals and acids that can cause serious environmental problems when they are disposed of with regular garbage. Look for solar powered products, or use an AC/DC adapter to avoid the use of batteries.

When you do need batteries, rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium batteries can be used many times and will save you money. Rechargeable batteries can also be recycled at participating battery and department stores when they are no longer rechargeable, Black's Photography, Bell World-Communications Plus, Excell Communications, Kawartha TV & Stereo and Totalline Communications. The lead, sulphuric acid and plastic casings from vehicle batteries can be reprocessed by registered battery recyclers. Kawartha Battery, Peterborough Battery and Canadian Tire accept certain batteries for recycling purposes. Please call for details. Kawartha Battery will also take regular household dry cell batteries for recycling as a community service. Some local jewelers take back watch batteries for recycling, and some hearing aid clinics accept hearing aid batteries. The Peterborough County/City and County Seasonal Household Hazardous Waste Depots accept all types of batteries.