4. Does Rayovac take used batteries back?
We do not take them back. However, Rayovac does fund the RBRC – a take back program for rechargeable batteries.

Rayovac policy does not allow the return of batteries from consumers and other accounts for several reasons:

1. There is no systematic collection scheme nation-wide handling all batteries, and no method for sorting when collections have occurred.
2. Collection and transportation back to Rayovac facilities would result in a net negative effect on the environment, (fuel use, recoverable material, and safety concerns).
3. Alkaline, Zinc Chloride (Heavy Duty & General Purpose), Rechargeable Alkaline, Rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Zinc Air, Silver Oxide, and drained lithium primary batteries are clearly not a hazardous waste as confirmed by EPA methods of testing.
4. Current recycling efforts rely on the customer to sort, ship, and in some cases (such as large volume generators such as Rayovac) pay the cost of recycling. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Company (RBRC), funded in part by Rayovac, offers free recycling of some battery types, visit them at www.rbrc.org for more information. However; for other battery types current sorting and recovery technology makes it unfeasible for potential recyclers to set up a process due to cost, limited usefulness of recovered materials, and small volumes. Independent studies have shown that there is a net negative environmental effect of recycling due to collection, transportation, sorting and handling these products.

For more information on battery waste issues, please visit NEMA’s website.