Someone asked me about recycling of batteries and lightbulbs, since we all seem to go through them. I don’t have an answer on the lightbulbs just yet, but long life energy saving bulbs should help (although the person who asked also mentioned the issue of mercury in CFLs). CFLs are recyclable - I just don’t know how to do it. I’m sure it won’t take long to find out how though. In the meantime, there’s an article from 2006 which covers the topic (and says that the extra mercury emissions produced by a power plant for a incandescent bulb is 3 times that of using a CFL).
Back to batteries… I found this on the internet last year. It’s a device that lets you re-use regular alkaline batteries once they’re ‘dead’. My girlfriend tried to get me one for Christmas but couldn’t find it anywhere, so I’ve not tried it yet. It sounds pretty good though. Just think of all those batteries you’ve thrown away. Of course, if you’re not using rechargeable batteries already, I’m not entirely hopeful that this product will work for you. I think that people are much more open to rechargeable batteries these days anyway - we all have mobile phones which we charge regularly (and often forget to turn the charger off at the wall when they’re done - no, they don’t all go off automatically).
A quick search today found that there are at least 2 companies producing devices that re-charge or recondition alkaline batteries: the Souvenir Cranwell one above and one from EverCharge. If anyone has experience of these, please let me know.
