In this electronically charged age, it’s easy to find yourself up to your eyeballs in batteries of old batteries.
What’s not always easy is to find the best way to safely and properly recycle them. Batteries contain toxic metals, are considered hazardous waste and must be recycled. Don’t throw them in the trash.
But did you know you can safely recycle your batteries for free by taking them to 14 San Diego County Library branches? That’s right, the library. It’s not just for books; it’s for batteries too!
Just bring them to the battery drop-off bins located inside the 14 branches. The libraries primarily collect standard alkaline batteries — Cs, Ds, AAs, AAAs, 9-volts, you name it. But they can also take rechargeable batteries; lithium batteries must be bagged separately.
The San Diego County Library recycling program, sponsored and funded by the County Department of Environmental Health, has been collecting and recycling used batteries for residents since 2009. The program recycles about five tons of batteries for residents every year.
Here are the County Library branches where you can recycle your batteries:
- Bonita-Sunnyside Branch Library 4375 Bonita Road Bonita (619) 475-4642
- Borrego Springs: 587 Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 125, Borrego Springs (760) 767-5761
- Campo: 31356 Highway 94 Campo (619) 478-5945
- Casa de Oro Branch Library 9805 Campo Rd., #180 Spring Valley (619) 463-3236
- Descanso Branch Library 9545 River Drive Descanso (619) 445-5279
- Fallbrook Branch Library 124 S. Mission Road Fallbrook (760) 731-4650
- Jacumba Branch Library 44605 Old Hwy. 80 Jacumba (619) 766-4608
- Julian Branch Library 1850 Highway 78 Julian (760) 765-0370
- Pine Valley Branch Library 28804 Old Hwy. 80 Pine Valley (619) 473-8022
- Potrero Branch Library 24883 Potrero Valley Rd. Potrero (619) 478-5978
- Ramona Branch Library 1275 Main Street Ramona (760) 788-5270
- Rancho San Diego Branch Library 11555 Via Rancho San Diego El Cajon (619) 660-5370
- Rancho Santa Fe Branch Library 17040 Avenida de Acacias Rancho Santa Fe (858) 756-2512
- Valley Center Branch Library 29200 Cole Grade Rd. Valley Center (760) 749-1305
For more information about recycling, go to the County’s recycling Web page and to WasteFreeSD.org.
