How to Dispose of Plastic Bags and Batteries

Plastic Bag Disposal

• 1

  Reuse as many bags as you can before disposing of them. Use them as garbage bags, to clean up after pets, or keep a few around for grocery shopping. There are endless uses for plastic bags.

• 2

  Keep a designated spot and container in your house for plastic bag collection, such as a small trash bin in a pantry or closet. As soon as you get a plastic bag, take out its contents and put it away. This way you'll have bags available for reuse and to eventually dispose of.

• 3

  Bring your unwanted bags to a place that has a plastic bag recycling receptacle and dispose of them there. Most supermarkets have them. If you must throw away a bag, this is the best way to do it. Check the "Resources" section to find other plastic bag recycling locations in your area.

• 4

  Reduce the amount of plastic bags you use to lessen the number you must dispose. Buy reusable bags, which are available at just about any supermarket at low cost.

Battery Disposal

• 5

  Check your town's recycling facilities to see if battery recycling is accommodated and, if so, what types they accept. Usually, collections are held several times a year. Some towns do not offer that service, but you'll most likely be able to find a place or business in the area that will. Check the "Resources" section to find nearby locations that recycle batteries.

• 6

  Purchase a battery recycling kit (check "Resources" for the link). You'll receive a receptacle to store any kinds of dry-cell batteries in as they accumulate. Once it fills up, all you have to do is put it in the mail and the batteries will be disposed of safely.

• 7

  Stock up on reusable batteries. Not only do they lessen the amount of single-use batteries that need to be disposed of, they're much more easily recyclable.