Toys 'R' Us will begin to phase out the use of nickel-cadmium batteries because of the widespread environmental harm it has been causing for factory workers in China. This type of rechargeable battery commonly found in remote-control cars and power tools are safe to use. However, recently they have been a cause of concern for many workers in China, who assemble the batteries, and have been exposed to toxic levels of cadmium, which has been linked to kidney failure, lung cancer and bone disease. The toy store chain said it would prohibit the use of cadmium batteries in toys made exclusively for their stores. Last week the company also agreed to adopt standards for surface lead paint stricter than the federal government's. Jane Spencer of the Wall Street Journal reports:

The announcement is part of a wave of safety initiatives aimed at winnowing out toxins from toys sold in the company's more than 1,550 retail stores world-wide. In addition to the battery phaseout, the company announced stricter rules on lead content in toy surface coatings and tighter rules on phthalates, a vinyl additive that has been linked to cancer in rats.

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Toys R Us also anounced in their press release that it will phase out the use of PVC in its stores. PVC contains many toxins, such as heavy metals and phthalates, that can leach out upon contact.

What You Can Do

• Learn more about the toxic battery issue.
• Learn more about PVC.

To help the state properly dispose of unwanted universal waste, Los Angeles area Jiffy Lubes have partnered with the City of Loz Angeles' Department of Public works to offer household battery collection containers in 28 stores. The program was launched last month and expects to reach more than two million people.

In February 2006, the Department of Toxic Substances Control enacted a rule prohibiting the disposal of universal wastes, including batteries and fluorescent light bulbs.

Jiffy Lube hopes to expand the problem in the next year to stores throughout LA County.

Read the Press Release.

Information on participating stores can be found here.

What You Can Do

• Read more about universal wastes.
• Find a place to dispose of used batteries and other household hazardous wastes.

In 2000, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) officially adopted new regulations for universal waste, deeming them to be hazardous to people and the environment. Universal wastes encompass a variety of devices (including fluorescent lamps, cathode ray tubes (such as computer monitors and TVs), batteries, etc...) that usually contain mercury, lead, cadmium, and copper. This category is a subset under all hazardous wastes.

In 2001, DTSC declared all wastes containing cathode ray tubes (CRTs) to be toxic and were thus banned from landfill disposal. In August 2001, the DTSC adopted emergency regulations reducing some hazardous waste requirements to make it easier to collect, store and recycle CRTs.

Since February 8, 2002, California's Universal Waste Rule has been in effect by prohibiting the disposal of universal wastes, including a wide range of toxic electronic devices, which has been added to since then an now includes a variety of consumer electronics as well.

The initial rule; however, established a temporary exemption for households and some small quantity generators, who were thus allowed to dispose fluorescent lamps, some batteries, mercury thermostats, and electronic devices to the trash unless forbidden by local solid waste authorities until February 8, 2006. On February 9, 2006, this exemption ended and DTSC effectively banned all universal wastes from trash.

The policy affects thousands of consumer electronic devices and the disposal of the more than 515,000 tons of toxic electronic wastes that are currently landfilled in California. This includes such items as: all household batteries, cell phones, computers, fluorescent lamps, mercury switches and thermostats, answering machines, printers, radios, microwaves, TVs, VCRs, and non-empty aerosol cans. Such wastes must now be separated from landfills and recycled properly.

While state policy makers and the legislature have supported a handful of recycling policies targeting some devices (computer monitors and televisions, cell phones and rechargeable batteries), little awareness and few recycling opportunities exist for most toxic electronic devices.

What You Can Do

The South Bayside Waste Management Authority tested a curbside pick up pilot program for batteries and cell phones in San Carlos and now the program may expand to the rest of the Authority's service area. The Authority collected 2,000 pounds worth of cell phones and batteries, 500 more pounds than expected. Because of the success, the Authority's board members will be voting today to expand these services to its entire service area of 91,000 residents by October. Rebekah Gordon for Insidebayarea reports.

A survey conducted by the authority of 737 residents who participated in the pilot found that 80 percent knew that it was illegal to throw batteries away. (Since February 2006, it has been illegal to throw used batteries, which are considered hazardous waste, in the trash.)

Furthermore, nearly 83 percent were "extremely satisfied" with the new curbside pickup program.

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Universal wastes such as batteries and cell phones are banned from disposal in the landfills because they contain hazardous materials and last summer, two CAW sponsored legislation went into effect that requires retailer take-back of these items.

What You Can Do

• Read more about battery and cell phone recycling.
• Find a place near you to recycle other household hazardous wastes.