Household Batteries
The
Lake Michigan Districts' Household Hazardous Waste program
is a cooperative effort between the Lake, Porter, and LaPorte
County Solid Waste Districts to collect household chemicals.
Lake Michigan Districts' runs a collection
and recycling program for household batteries. Automotive
batteries can also be recycled; however, they are collected
through our mobile collection program.
In addition to the battery recycling program,
Lake Michigan Districts' runs a Conditionally Exempt Small
Quantity Generator program, a mobile collection program, and
is part of IDEM's Mercury Awareness Program (MAP). Call
the Lake Michigan Districts to find out more on these other
programs at 1-800-483-7700 or 1-219-326-1425.
Why Can't I Just Throw My Old Batteries
In The Garbage?
Batteries contain several different toxic
materials. Lead and mercury are the most notable hazardous
metals found in household batteries. But they also can
contain cadmium, another highly toxic metal similar to lead
and mercury. Alkaline batteries have toxic chemicals
and acids which react to produce their power. Even though
the battery no longer produces substantial power to run your
electronic device, the toxic materials are still present and
can be as potent as the day the battery was new.
When you throw out one of these "dead"
batteries, you are giving these toxic materials a way into
the ground and as a result, a way into our water supplies,
including drinking water. Even though batteries represent
less than one percent by weight of municipal solid waste,
they account for fifty-two (52) percent of all the cadmium
and eighty-eight (88) percent of all the mercury found in
the municipal waste stream.
What Should I Do With My Old Batteries?
You should recycle your old batteries,
which is why the Lake Michigan Districts Household Hazardous
Waste program runs a collection and recycling program for
household batteries.
The other side of this pamphlet contains a list of sites where
the general public is able to drop off household batteries.
What Difference Does It Make If I
Don't Recycle My Batteries?
It makes a big difference. We, as
Americans, use roughly two billion "disposable" batteries
each year. Our program has been in effect since 1996,
and since that time, we have collected almost 40,000 pounds
of household batteries. In 1998 alone, we collected
close to 20,000 pounds. This is a significant amount
of which people like yourselves played a very important role.
Does It Cost Me Anything To Use Your
Program?
No. The program is free to all residents
and there are two different ways to use it; you can either
choose one of the following public drop-off sites or the batteries
may be brought to one of our mobile collection sites during
the outdoor season.
Public Battery Drop-off Boxes:
| NAME |
ADDRESS |
PHONE # |
| Amoco, J-Mart |
10300 Highway 30 |
733-9449 |
| |
Wanatah, IN 46390 |
|
| Amoco, J-Mart |
2913 Highway 421 |
785-7111 |
| |
Westville, IN 46391 |
|
| Herald-Argus |
701 State Street |
326-4757 |
| |
LaPorte, IN 46350 |
|
| Kabelin Ace Hardware |
512 Andrew Ave. |
362-3310 |
| |
LaPorte, IN 46350 |
|
| Kabelin Ace Hardware |
605 E. Lincolnway Ave. |
325-8066 |
| |
La Porte, IN 46350 |
|
| Kabelin Ace Hardware |
432 St. John Rd. |
872-5431 |
| |
Michigan City, IN 46360 |
|
| Kingsford Hts. Community Building |
515 Wayland Road |
393-7020 |
| |
Kingsford Heights, IN 46346 |
|
| Krueger Middle School |
2001 Springland Avenue |
873-2061 |
| |
Michigan City, IN 46360 |
|
| La Porte County Court House |
813 Lincolnway |
|
| |
LaPorte, IN 46350 |
|
| LaPorte County Health Department |
County Complex - 4th Floor |
326-6808 |
| |
LaPorte, IN 46350 |
Ext. 428 |
| LaPorte County Soil & Water District |
100 Legacy Plaza |
362-6633 |
| |
LaPorte, IN 46350 |
Ext. 3 |
| Markay Enterprises |
304 "J" Street |
362-7489 |
| |
LaPorte, IN 46350 |
|
| Michigan City Port Authority |
200 Heisman Harbor |
872-1712 |
| |
Michigan City, IN 46360 |
|
| Michigan City Park Department |
Two on the Lake |
873-1506 |
| (Senior Center) |
Michigan City, IN 46360 |
|
| Michigan City Sanitation District |
1100 E. 8th Street |
874-7799 |
| |
Michigan City, IN 46360 |
|
| Michigan City Water Department |
719 Grand Avenue |
874-3228 |
| |
Michigan City, IN 46360 |
|
| Parents and Friends (PAF) |
2354 N US Hwy 35 |
324-0656 |
| |
La Porte, IN 46350 |
|
| Purdue Cooperative Extension (4-H) |
2358 N. US Highway 35 |
324-9407 |
| |
La Porte, IN 46350 |
|
| Purdue North Central |
Room 18 - Schwarz Hall |
785-5200 |
| |
Westville, IN 46391 |
|
| Purdue North Central |
Room 73 - Schwarz Hall |
785-5200 |
| |
Westville, IN 46391 |
|
| Purdue North Central |
Room 141 - Technical Bldg. |
785-5200 |
| |
Westville, IN 46391 |
|
| Radio Shack |
311 J Street |
362-9014 |
| |
LaPorte, IN 46350 |
|
| Sears |
3901 Franklin Street |
878-6657 |
| |
Michigan City, IN 46360 |
|
| Solid Waste District of La Porte Co. |
2354 N. U.S. 35, Suite #6 |
326-0014 |
| |
La Porte, IN 46350 |
|
| Tracy United Methodist Church |
1702 E. U.S. Highway 6 |
393-5091 |
| |
LaPorte, IN 46350 |
|
| Trail Creek Marina |
1 E. Michigan Blvd. |
872-1712 |
| |
Michigan City, IN 46360 |
|
| Walmart |
333 Boyd Blvd. |
325-3130 |
| |
La Porte, IN 46350 |
|
|
|
|
