Once you buy your new batteries over the internet they get delivered to your home cheaply and quickly. You simply have to put them into your TV remote control, iPod or whatever other items you want powered and away you go. Current batteries such as the Duracell or Procell brands give a fantastic performance and last a long time, but what do you do when the batteries eventually run down and it is time to dispose of them?

I must admit that I have been as guilty as anyone of leaving the odd battery lying in a cupboard drawer until it has passed its use by date and starting oozing. If you can picture all the batteries which we use in the whole world all put in a pile and leaking out their contents then it is clear that disposing properly of your used batteries is essential in order to avoid unnecessary damage to the environment.

A lot of cities across the world now collect used batteries for recycling purposes. The list of places doing this is longer in some countries than in others but it is becoming more common everywhere and it is worth checking with your local authority. If your town doesn’t offer this service but a neighbouring town does then consider holding onto the used batteries until you have enough to justify a trip to hand them all in. Just don’t store the used power units together as it could be a health hazard if they still have some power left in them.

A lot of companies and wholesale battery traders will take your spent power units off you. You can usually find the option of handing them in personally, locating one of their designated recycling points or asking them to come round and collect them if you have a lot to be recycled. You should avoid sending them by post and stick to one of these three ways of doing it.

What you must never do is just store your used batteries in a cupboard indefinitely or, even worse, throw them on a fire. The official line is that disposing of the occasional battery in your household waste is acceptable, but in this day and age there really is no excuse for not making an effort to do our bit to help the environment. You can then log on and buy some replacement batteries with a clear conscience.