Under California law, it is illegal to throw away common household batteries because they contain toxic metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel. Batteries that end up in landfills may have a negative affect on the environment and food chain, potentially causing serious health risks to humans and animals.
How to properly dispose of used batteries? Drop them off at the library! There are collection containers at designated llibraries throughout Los Angeles County. Both libraries serving the Koreatown area can accept used batteries.
Pio Pico Koreatown Branch
694 South Oxford Avenue, Los Angeles 90005
(213) 368-7647
Wishire Branch
149 North Saint Andrews Place, Los Angeles 90004
(323) 957-4550
You can also bring the batteries to Home Depot and other retail stores, such as Jiffy Lube, Target, and B & B Hardware. I recommend you drop them off at the library as a first choice… Every clerk I’ve spoken to at the library knew what I was talking about when I asked about the program. Employees at private retail shops? Uhm… NVM.
Among the items you can turn in are Dry Cell Batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9-Volt), Rechargeable Batteries (used in cell phones and power tools), and Button Cell Batteries (used in watches, cameras, and hearing aids).
