Ask Mr. Answer Person about recycling batteries

Julie e-mails: "Where in Decorah can you take alkaline batteries for recycling?

Mr. Answer Person replies: "Here's what Winneshiek county Recycling Coordinator Terry Buenzow has to say:

"There are no viable recycling outlets for the one time use batteries such as the alkalines. Some processors attempted to recycle them years ago but found it to be not practical to do. The only thing we can do with them is put them in the trash. The materials in them are not considered to be major landfill contaminants, either.

The batteries that are recyclable are the rechargeable ones.  We accept them at the recycling plant and ship out over 100 lbs of them each month.

Recycling is all market driven. Without multiple viable markets, recycling cannot happen."