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.