Go Green and Win! Shopping never felt so good...

Battery Basics

It's that time of year, again! Especially if you have kids, holiday shopping means battery shopping. But whether you're stocking up for toys, electronic games, wireless computer accessories, or even for a smoke detector, how do you know which batteries are the most earth-friendly ones to get?

Essentially, there are two types of batteries: single-use and rechargeable. The rechargeable ones are considered the greener option.

Is it really worth being concerned about something so small it fits into the palm of your hand? According to Environment Canada, in 2004, an estimated 450 million consumer batteries were sold in Canada and approximately 348 million were discarded.

Some of the toxic heavy metals in batteries include nickel cadmium, alkaline, mercury, nickel metal hydride and lead acid. These heavy metals are dangerous enough to cause severe skin burns. Improperly disposed batteries may result in any of these heavy metals leaching from solid waste landfills into the soil and our water supply and/or evaporating into the air.

For details on disposing of single-use batteries, it is best to consult with your local Waste Management department. For rechargeable batteries, consumers have two options:

1. Rebuild them: The Source by Circuit City now offers an innovative Battery Rebuild Program. Simply bring in your old rechargeable batteries from any cordless phone, cordless drill, notebook computer, electric shaver, or whatever other electronic devices you need to keep charged-up, and leave a Battery Specialist to rebuild it!
   
   If you're thinking, why rebuild batteries instead of buy new ones, the benefits of rebuilding your battery are:
   1. Save the planet: Do your part to lessen the number of batteries that end up as landfill waste
   2. Save Money: A rebuilt battery usually costs less than purchasing a new one because the battery's original casing and circuitry is reused.
   3. Increase Power: In almost all cases, a rebuilt battery will outperform your original battery, meaning you'll actually get longer use of the product without needing to constantly recharge the batteries.
   
   
   Fore more information about the Battery Rebuild Program, visit The Source by Circuit City in your neighbourhood Cadillac Fairview shopping centre.
2. Recycle Them: When your old rechargeable batteries and cell phone batteries no longer work, they can be recycled. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC, a nonprofit, public service organization dedicated to recycling used rechargeable batteries, offer a Call2Recycle program with over 50,000 collection locations across Canada. Since 1996, RBRC has collected over 42 million pounds of rechargeable batteries in the U.S and Canada!
   
   National retailers participating in this program include: Bell World, Best Buy, Canadian Tire and Fido, Personal Edge, Telus, The Source by Circuit City and Zellers. Look for the drop-off box or ask a sales associate for assistance. The RBRC program does not accept alkaline, lithium or non-rechargeable batteries.

For our full listing of all our green products, check out our Holiday Gift Guide.

Back to all articles