How should I dispose of used batteries?

There are six types of batteries found at Penn State University. These batteries are identified as follows:

Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) Batteries: Rechargeable batteries typically used in beepers, two-way radios, laptop computers, cellular phones, camcorders and some medical equipment. These batteries contain cadmium, a heavy metal which is considered hazardous. They must be disposed of through the EHS department as hazardous waste.

Lead Acid Batteries: Typically used in some medical equipment, motorized vehicles such as cars, golf carts. These batteries are also used in some older cellular phones and camcorders. These batteries contain lead which is considered hazardous. They must be disposed of through the EHS department as hazardous waste.

Dry-Cell Batteries: Dry-cell batteries include alkaline and carbon zinc (9-volt, D, C, AA, AAA), mercuric-oxide (button, some cylindrical and rectangular), silver-oxide and zinc-air (button), and lithium (9-volt, C, AA, coin, button, rechargeable). Most small, round "button-cell" type batteries are found in items such as watches and hearing aids and contain mercury, silver, cadmium, lithium, or other heavy metals as their main component. These batteries are considered hazardous and must be disposed of through the EHS department as hazardous waste.

Household (Alkaline) Batteries: The most commonly used non-rechargeable battery. Used typically to power radios, flash lights, and most office equipment. These batteries do not contain hazardous substances in sufficient amount to warrant special disposal arrangements and may be disposed of in the regular trash. The University is investigating recycling options but nothing is currently available.

Zinc Air Batteries: Used as an "environmentally friendly" substitute to replace mercury batteries in telemetry units and some other electronic equipment. These batteries do not contain hazardous substances and may be disposed in the regular trash.

Lithium Batteries: Used in photographic and diagnostic equipment. Also can be found in some laptop computers. These batteries must be disposed of through the EHS department as hazardous waste.