7. What chemicals are in a battery, and aren't they bad?
General household batteries (Alkaline, Zinc Chloride (Heavy Duty & General Purpose), Rechargeable Alkaline, Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), and Lithium Ion) contain several materials, primarily metals and metal oxides. These metals are found in everyday products you purchase from automobiles to vitamin supplements. The electrolytes used in the batteries are not "free" liquid like those in automotive batteries.

Our toxic use reduction programs have eliminated all added mercury and cadmium in these products. For more detailed information on materials used in your battery, go to Material Safety Data Sheets.

For a basic explanation of how a battery is constructed, go to "How a battery is made".

Please remember, taking responsibility to use, store and dispose of your batteries properly provides minimal impact to our neighbors and environment. Improper use or littering can cause safety and environmental problems. It is in your control.

Zinc Air batteries, used in hearing aids, cannot be easily recycled and are considered general household trash when they are drained. Place dead or drained zinc air batteries in the household trash as they are consumed. Collecting or saving them can create an ingestion or insertion hazard to children.

In the event of swallowing or insertion, contact the National Capital Poison Center for emergency information at 1-800-222-1222 or 202-625-3333 (collect) IMMEDIATELY (TTY 800-222-1222). Please also contact your emergency medical service provider.

Rayovac Batteries, Flashlights and Bulbs:Environmental Issues

• Rayovac Alkaline, Rechargeable Alkaline and Zinc Chloride (Heavy Duty & General Purpose) batteries are of the "no mercury formula", and these claims are restated in the relevant Material Safety Data Sheet and Total Analysis Testing Documents which show the mercury content to be below 1 ppm.
• Rayovac Alkaline, Rechargeable Alkaline and Zinc Chloride (Heavy Duty & General Purpose) batteries are not USEPA hazardous wastes, as documented in the relevant TCLP Testing.
• Rayovac products do not contain PBB's or PBBO's, nor are they manufactured with these compounds.
• Rayovac products are not manufactured with, nor do they contain, any Class I Ozone Depleting Substances (see attached statement); our products require no label under this regulation, and they do not trigger any requirement by you to label your products.

California Proposition 65: Household batteries, flashlights, and bulbs are considered "articles of commerce" and they do not expose the user to "significant risk;" therefore they require no "warning."

• International Air Transport Association (IATA): Household batteries (batteries, dry) (Alkaline, Rechargeable Alkaline, Zinc Chloride (Heavy Duty & General Purpose), Zinc Air, Silver, Rayovac Lithium), flashlights, and bulbs are "not restricted" under the Dangerous Goods Regulation (Identification Section).
• OSHA Hazard Communication Standard: Household batteries, flashlights, and bulbs are considered "articles of commerce" and as such are exempt from the provisions of this regulatory code, 29 CFR 1910.1200 (b) (6) (iv).
• Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA): Household batteries, flashlights, and bulbs are "articles" and unless thousands of pounds of them are both spilled and opened to the environment, no spill notification or inventory/emission reporting are required (Ref: 40 CFR 370, 372).
• Department of Transportation Regulations: Household batteries, flashlights, and bulbs are not regulated under DOT (49 CFR 172.101). There are no required markings, labels or placards.
• Canadian Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS): Household batteries, flashlights, and bulbs are consumer products and manufactured articles, and are exempt from WHMIS.

Our household battery and lighting products comply with the above listed regulations.