If you are looking for good ideas and information on "going green" this Chicago website should top your list: http://www.afreshsqueeze.com/. They sent out some information a few months ago that I wanted to pass on to you all.
According to the Chicago Recycling Coalition website, batteries constitute “88 percent of the mercury and 54 percent of the cadmium deposited into our landfills, which adversely affects the environment, wildlife, and human health.”

Okay, so where do we recycle batteries in Brooklyn? To find the place closest to you, check out this website: http://www.rbrc.org. You just put in your zip and it will tell you the closest locations to you. I couldn’t believe how many places recycle cell phone batteries and regular batteries- there were 4 pages alone for my zip code within 10 miles! But here are a couple that I wanted to put down:

3r Living
www.3rliving.com
276 Fifth Ave, between First St and Garfield Pl
Park Slope Brooklyn
718-832-0951

Neerguard Pharmacy
454 5th Ave (btw. 9th and 10th St)
718-768-0600

Pintchik Paints
478 Bergen ST
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-783-3333

Yet even when recycling is possible, it’s not always preferrable. Kevin Dick points out that although Styrofoam can be recycled, the environmental benefits are negative. So avoid and reuse Styrofoam whenever possible, and return packaging peanuts to a local UPS stores.

Go to the UPS website and put in your zip code to find a store near you.

Related Posts:

1. Lithium Cell Batteries: a real hazard (June 1st, 2010)
2. Recycle your fancy dresses for prom (March 15th, 2010)
3. Where to Recycle? (May 27th, 2009)
4. Electronics Recycling This Sunday in Brooklyn (January 8th, 2009)
5. A great place to recycle those NYC unwanted items…. (September 13th, 2007)