Just where do I get rid of these old batteries in Torrington?

Some of you may already be clear on this, but for a while now I've been collecting batteries. Old, dead, mix-matched batteries, in a jumbled mess in a bag under my sink. We could never bring ourselves to throw them out, because "there must be someplace to recycle these buggers". And so our growing bag of old batteries grew, as did our frustration with just what to do with them.

The City of Torrington website doesn't really help. They explain that rechargeable batteries - like the ones in your phone, mobile devices, etc - are indeed recyclable, but you have to jump through some 800-number hoops to find the locations.

In Torrington, you can recycle used rechargable batteries here:

• Staples | 15 South Main
• Radio Shack | 460 Winsted Road
• City Hall | 140 Main Street [Temporary location at 59 Field Street ]
  
• WH Morris and Company | 63 Water Street
• Wireless Zone | 849 Winsted Road
  

But what about household batteries? The details get a bit convoluted here. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection says this about household batteries:

Alkaline and zinc carbon batteries typically contain a manganese dioxide cathode and a zinc anode. The electrolyte in an alkaline battery is usually potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, while in a zinc carbon battery the electrolyte is ammonium chloride or zinc chloride. They represent about 70% of the battery market. In the past, mercury was added to prevent corrosion and the creation of hydrogen gas. Recent laws have restricted the levels of mercury allowed in alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries. Today, alkaline batteries on the market are required to have zero-added mercury. 

 

There are limited opportunities for recycling alkaline batteries. The main barrier to the recycling of alkaline batteries has been the presence of mercury. With the advent of zero-added mercury, the economics of recycling alkaline batteries should be more favorable and we may begin to see more recycling facilities. The benefits of recycling batteries lie in the energy savings of recapturing a product compared with mining a virgin resource.

Alkaline and zinc carbon batteries can be disposed in the regular trash if there is no local recycling option available. INMETCO, a metals reclamation facility in Pennsylvania recycles alkaline and zinc carbon batteries. (724) 758-2800.

Which basically states that here in Torrington - as long as your batteries in question were made after 1997 [ see the Mercury-containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act ] - you are safe to dispose of them in the trash. Which still feels dirty, but the only other option is the aforementioned metals reclamation company in Pennsylvania...

It seems like there should be a better option, but alas, there is none. That I know of. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

Torrington Area Health District :: H1N1 Vaccination Clinics this Saturday, November 14th

Are you getting the H1N1 vaccine? Are you eligible? Where can you get it? When?!

If you find yourself asking these questions, well come on down to the Torrington Area Health District!

Well, more specifically: come on down to the Torrington Middle School on Saturday, November 14th - by appointment only.

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Here is the pertinent information: 

For Immediate Release
Contact: Leslie Polito  @ 860-626-6640
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm to schedule appointments

Torrington Area Health District
H1N1 Vaccination Clinics
This clinic is by appointment only*
(Vaccinations are free-of-charge)

The Torrington Area Health District has received another shipment of H1N1 vaccine. It will be offered to eligible residents of Bantam, Bethlehem, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, Norfolk, N. Canaan, Plymouth, Salisbury, Sharon, Thomaston, Torrington, Warren, Watertown, and Winsted. Eligibility is based on the recommendations outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH).

This clinic will provide an  injectable vaccine which contains thimerosal.

Injectable Vaccine - This vaccine contains thimerosal, a mercury based preservative. Those eligible for this vaccine are:

Pregnant women

Household contacts and caregivers of infants less than 6 months old

Children 5 to 18 years who have high risk medical conditions**

Healthcare workers and EMS personnel with direct patient care (This includes school nurses and the staff in private medical offices.)

All children aged 6 months through 83 months (age 6 months through 6 years)

** High risk medical conditions are defined as: pregnancy; asthma and other chronic lung disease; heart disease; kidney or liver disease; cancer; blood disorders; diabetes, neurological disorders (i.e. epilepsy, cerebral palsy, brain or spinal cord injuries; moderate to profound intellectual disability or developmental delay); neuromuscular disorders (i.e. muscular dystrophy; multiple sclerosis); or weakened immune system due to illness or medications.

Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 
10:00 am - 2:00pm 
Torrington Middle School

YOU MUST PRE -REGISTER for this clinic by calling 860-626-6640 for an appointment beginning on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 between the hours of 8:00am - 4:00pm.  Please note this is a new phone number to call to book your appointments. 

Important Note: 

This clinic is by appointment only

Walk-ins cannot be accommodated

Vaccine being offered is specifically for H1N1 Influenza (swine flu), not seasonal influenza

TAHD will schedule more clinics as nasal and injectable H1N1 vaccine is allotted by the CT Department of Public Health.  Interested persons should check the Torrington Area Health District website (www.tahd.org) and the TAHD hotline 860-626-6640 frequently since target groups for vaccination will change depending on the type of vaccine that is received from the Department.