"Batteries not included" labels on holiday toys may be a parent's worst nightmare this time of year, but for environmentalists the idea of hundreds of batteries being thrown away is even scarier.

"There is a better and higher use for (battery) materials," said Rod Fletcher, environmental manager for the city of Urbana. "If we can use them, it would be better than having them in landfills."

In order to reuse the valuable metals used in batteries, Urbana has started a recycling program for residents to get rid of their dead batteries.

The program began in late November and collects household batteries free of charge at five locations in Urbana; Anita Purves Center, Phillips Recreation Center, Urbana City Building, Urbana Free Library and at Urbana Public Works.

Before this program, the city did not have a battery recycling program.

"Several years ago the Illinois Student Environmental Network collected batteries," Fletcher said.

He said the program stopped running due to a lack of funding.

"It was a far more complicated program (than Urbana's)," said Laura Huth, who served as president of the Illinois Student Environmental Network for 10 years until 2003. "We recycled thousands of pounds of batteries and it was a very popular program. It was sad to see it stop."

The new program was started because of an expressed interest by the Urbana City Council, Fletcher said.

"In the past month or so Courtney Rushforth, recycling coordinator for city of Champaign, made contact with a company called Interstate Batteries. They're willing to take our household batteries in exchange for our vehicle lead acid batteries," he said.

The value of metals right now is very high, Fletcher said.

"The lead batteries (the company) gets would have a lot of value and that would help offset the cost of the household batteries," he said.

Common Ground, 610 E. Springfield Ave., a grocery co-op that sells organic and locally grown foods, also collects batteries for recycling.

"We started up our battery recycling program in April 2007," said Jacqueline Hannah, general manager of Common Ground. "A member found a company that takes batteries at no charge."

Common Ground also uses Interstate Batteries to recycle its batteries.

"Generally they charge shipping," Hannah said. "What they do to offset the cost is that they actually do make money from alkaline and watch batteries, and they're willing to wait and see if people turn some of those in."

The program received a positive reception at the grocery store, with people bringing in large quantities of batteries they had been saving.

"People were extremely excited that we had (the program)," Hannah said. "People brought in buckets and buckets."

The city of Champaign does not have a battery recycling program, said Eleanor Blackmon, assistant city engineer for Champaign.

Champaign also used to work through the Illinois Student Environmental Network.

"Our Web site recommends you do a search and see if there's any in the area," said Blackmon. "The issue with battery recycling is there's a charge for it."

The city of Urbana is able to fund the program, though it is a balancing act, Fletcher said.

"It depends on how many household batteries we get in a year, and how much we make with the lead batteries we're giving," he said.

"The feedback we've heard so far has been very positive," he added.

Battery recycling locations Anita Purves Center, 1505 N. Broadway Ave. Philips Recreations Center, 505 W Stoughton St. Urbana City Building, 400 S. Vine St. Urbana Free Library, 210 W. Green St. Urbana Public Works, 706 S. Glover Ave. Source: city of urbana