Washington Business Spring 2012 | Page 33

Project1_Layout 1 12-03-20 4:43 PM Page 1 washington business leading environmental practices all battery sales and service, everett www.allbatterysalesandservice.com what it does: Systematically led efforts to promote battery recycling starting with automotive batteries in the late ‘70s, long before 1989 legislation made it mandatory. More recently, it has led efforts to promote recycling of household rechargeable batteries and even alkaline batteries, including regular household batteries such as AA, AAA, C, D and 9 volt. why it’s difficult: Alkaline batteries cannot be recycled as batteries, but are ground up instead and separated for use as construction filler material, low-grade steel products and crop nutrients. Until recently, this was done at a destination in Mesa, Ariz., making shipping expensive and raising the carbon footprint. the breakthrough: All Battery Sales and Service is currently part of a test project in which used alkaline batteries are sent directly to local plants for repurposing, drastically lowering the cost to counties, municipalities and businesses. It could go nationwide by 2013. quote: “It’s a pretty excitin