The difference in the way that Hennepin and Ramsey County handle batteries has to do with how collected garbage is handled.
In Hennepin, garbage goes direct from the hauler's vehicle into a burn facility where the energy is recovered for steam and electricity. Because of limits on mercury in the air quality of emissions leaving the plant, Hennepin initiated a strong campaign to remove batteries from the waste stream. In Ramsey and Washington counties, the hauler's vehicle drops off waste at a resource recovery facility in Newport. There the waste is processed into a burnable product called refuse derived fuel (RDF). To do that, it passes under large magnets that remove metal including most batteries. This metal waste is then recycled Then the waste goes through large hammer mills to cut it up. In then passes over air equipment that blows light materials into the RDF trailers that are then sent to Red Wing and Mankato where the RDF fuels two power plants. Heavy materials such as remaining batteries, tennis shoes, broccoli stocks, etc then goes to a landfill. This landfilled amount represents about 10% of the waste coming into the plant. Rob Fulton, Highland Park -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bob Spaulding Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 1:44 PM To: St.Paul Issues Forum Subject: Re: [StPaul] Battery Disposal Assisted in oversight of a recycling program for a short time. Most household (A, AA, C, D) can be thrown away now, because the mercury?, or whatever was in them that made them especially bad, is no longer put into them. But all other batteries should NOT be thrown away, as specified below. The point is to spend your time disposing of the really bad stuff correctly, and as Brian suggests, work to minimize your purchase in the first place. Bob Spaulding Downtown ******** From Ramsey County Hazardous Waste Website: (http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ph/eh/haz_waste_items.asp#Batteries): Lead acid car, motorcycle or marine batteries: under State law, anyone who sells lead acid batteries must accept up to five used batteries, free of charge, even from non-customers. Button batteries are small, disk-shaped batteries used for hearing aids, watches, and other small devices: many retailers who sell them accept the used batteries for recycling when you purchase new ones or they can be disposed of in the trash. General purpose batteries include alkaline, carbon/zinc, or heavy-duty types, and are used in toys, flashlights, and portable radios: most of these batteries are not recyclable and in Ramsey County, used general purpose batteries can be disposed in the trash. Rechargeable batteries are a type of reusable general purpose battery. The newer rechargeable alkaline batteries may be disposed of in the trash. Other types, including Nickel-Cadmium (or Ni-Cad) batteries, and the appliances that contain them, may not be disposed of in the trash. These batteries can be taken to one of several retailers that participate in a free, nationwide battery recycling program. For information on a participating retail collection site near you, call 1-800-8-Battery (1-800-822-8837), or log on to www.rbrc.org/consumer/uslocate.html For a listing of places in Ramsey County that accept lead acid, button, or rechargeable batteries, call 651- 633-EASY(3279) TTY 651-221-9832 or email AskEH. If you do not know what type of battery you have, call the Environmental Section at 651-773-4444 or email AskEH for assistance._____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
