The Army’s Fort Drum in New York has launched an alkaline battery recycling program that one official said may be the first of its kind for the Army.
The post’s Public Works Environmental Division now collects for recycling single-use household batteries, according to a news release. Those at Fort Drum may place all alkaline batteries in white containers mounted on the four-compartment curb sorters located around the installation, including motor pools, gas stations and centralized recycling stations in single soldier housing areas.
About 85 curb sorters have been placed around Fort Drum to collect tin, plastic, glass and metal.
A dealer who collects the installation’s scrap metal has agreed to purchase the alkaline batteries as well, saving Fort Drum solid waste disposal fees.
Dean Clark, an employee of the division who created the program, said he knows of no other Department of Defense installation recycling alkaline batteries.