Power to the world’s most convenient, portable energy source: the battery. They come in all shapes and sizes and we couldn’t live without them. Although their convenience mobilizes our lives, their disposal comes at a cost to the environment.
Batteries make up almost 20% of all household hazardous materials sent to landfills. This presents a problem as the elements used to create power inside a battery- mercury, lead, cadmium, or nickel – leach out when the battery breaks down in the landfill, potentially contaminating the surrounding water table. Batteries incorrectly placed in trash or recycling carts can also cause fires in trucks and machinery when compacted.
To prevent damage to the environment and potential fire hazards, Texas State law prohibits the landfilling of lead-acid batteries and requires residents to dispose of them with an authorized recycling facility. State law also requires businesses that sell lead acid batteries to accept them for recycling. Dry-cell batteries, or single-use batteries can legally be disposed of in the trash, however it is better to recycle them at a collection site.
Batteries – like many other products – are recyclable, however, they are not accepted at the same sorting facility as residential recycling. To empower residents to recycle beyond our curbside carts, The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department has selected alkaline AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V Batteries for the annual Village Recycling Challenge. This event will be held at the 3R Bazaar :Recycling Drive-thru on Saturday, November 14, 2020 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Parks, Recreation and Environmental Services Facility (8203 Millennium Forest Drive).
If you don’t already have a stash of used batteries start saving them now! The village that collects the most will receive a donation to its scholarship fund from The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. Encourage neighbors, friends and family to save their batteries too.
Can’t wait for 3R Bazaar: Recycling Drive-thru? That’s ok! The Precinct 3 Recycling Center (1122 Pruitt Road in Spring) and Batteries Plus accept alkaline and rechargeable batteries throughout the year. For a comprehensive list of where to take other recycling oddities such as Styrofoam™, electronics, lightbulbs, paints, pharmaceuticals, and more, check out the Recycle More Guide.
Reduce by buying rechargeable! Rechargeable batteries cost more up front, but save money in the long run, substituting hundreds of single-use batteries. Rechargeables can also be recycled when they’ve outlived their usefulness, preventing unnecessary landfill usage and toxicity to the environment.
Questions or comments? Contact enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
On Saturday, November 9, more than 800 residents enjoyed shopping local artists, free recycling, document shredding and learning about recycling at the 9th Annual 3R Bazaar! 3R Bazaar is a once a year recycling event with local resources available to educate on a number of ways to reduce, reuse and recycle as well as on-site recycling opportunities. Residents saved 13,817 lbs of material from the landfill by bringing hard to recycle items for free recycling. $1,485 and 850lbs of canned food items were collected from the document shredding service and donated to Interfaith of The Woodlands Food Pantry.
The 2019 Recycling Village Challenge item was batteries. The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. will award scholarship funds to villages based on the amount of batteries they collected.
Save the
date for the next 3R Bazaar on Saturday, November 14, 2020 and watch for the
new Recycling Village Challenge item, to be announced in January. Batteries
will not count towards the 2020 Village Challenge but will be accepted along
with eyeglasses, textiles, oral care products and documents for shredding. In
the meantime, batteries can be recycled at Precinct 3 Recycling Facility,
Batteries Plus Bulbs, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s or a Walmart Super Center.
Residents
are encouraged to think beyond the curbside cart and take advantage of the wide
variety of local recycling opportunities. A complete list of participating
locations and the items they accept can be found here.
For more information about recycling, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/recycling or contact the Township Environmental Services Department at 281-210-3800. The 3R Bazaar is a free program of The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department with sponsorship from Waste Management, Southern Shred, Gullo Dealerships, Woodlands Water and The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N.
Questions or Comments? Email enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
Reduce, reuse, recycle and re-imagine waste at the annual 3R Bazaar! Bring select items for recycling, shop the market for crafts featuring recycled materials, and discover new opportunities to recycle beyond the curb. It all happens on November 9 at The Woodlands Farmers Market at Grogan’s Mill 8 a.m. to noon.
Reduce
Americans make up roughly 5% of the world’s population but generate nearly 40% of the world’s total waste. Learn tips and tricks to reduce waste on the go and at home.
Reuse
The U.S. produces 4.6 million lbs. of wrapping paper each year. Half of it is sent to landfills. Many wrapping papers are foiled which means they cannot be recycled. Visit the Reuse Workshop and learn how to create eco-friendly gift boxes and bags from newspaper and vinyl record sleeves. They can even be reused or recycled after the holiday!
Recycle
Bring select, hard-to-recycle items for free recycling and learn about year-round collection opportunities. Participate in the 2019 Village Challenge! Earn scholarship funds for your village by bringing Alkaline AA, AAA, C, D, 9V batteries for recycling.
Free Recycling
Alkaline Batteries
AA, AAA, C, D and 9 volt
Residential
only, no businesses
Textiles
Clothing in unusable condition
Eyeglasses
Oral Care Products
Collected by Girl Scout Cadette Troop 11953
Used toothbrushes, empty toothpaste tubes, and
floss containers
3R Bazaar is hosted by The Woodlands Township Environmental Services with sponsorship from Waste Management, Woodlands Water, Southern Shred and The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. For more information, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/3rbazaar or contact the Environmental Services Department at 281-210-3800.
Recycle batteries and earn scholarship funds for your village
Power to the world’s most convenient, portable energy source: the battery. They come in all shapes and sizes and we couldn’t live without them. They keep things going in our hospitals and military operations; and at home in our electronics and children’s toys.
Did you know? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, each year, Americans throw away more than 86,000 tons of single-use alkaline batteries. Batteries make up about 20% of all household hazardous materials in America’s landfills.
Batteries contain two common elements that combine to create power: an electrolyte and a heavy metal such as mercury, lead, cadmium, or nickel. As batteries break down in landfills, they leach mercury and other toxins. These pollutants can eventually make their way into the surrounding water table.
In an effort to reduce hazardous waste, The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department has selected Alkaline AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V Batteries for the annual Village Recycling Challenge held at the 3R Bazaar on Saturday, November 9, 8 a.m.to noon at its new location The Woodlands Farmer’s Market.
Recycling batteries saves resources and keeps heavy metals out of landfills and water.
Keep in mind: Rechargeable batteries may cost more up front, but each rechargeable battery can substitute for hundreds of single-use batteries. Rechargeables can also be recycled when they’ve outlived their usefulness, preventing unnecessary landfill usage and toxicity to the environment.
If your stash of used batteries runneth over, or if you’ve just started your collection, support your village by bringing Alkaline AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V Batteries to the 3R Bazaar for the Village Recycling Challenge. The village that collects the most will receive a donation to its scholarship fund from The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N.
Can’t make it to 3R Bazaar? That’s ok! The Precinct 3 Recycling Center (1122 Pruitt Road in Spring), Home Depot, Lowes, Batteries Plus, Best Buy, and some Walmarts accept batteries all year. For a comprehensive list of local recycling opportunities of other oddities such as electronics, light bulbs, paints, pharmaceuticals, and more check out the Recycle More Guide.
The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department has a packed schedule this fall with something for everyone. Always wanted to grow your own vegetables or interested in what it takes to compost in your own backyard? Curious about the fascinating world of bugs, bats and birds? If you have been looking to learn more about reducing your water usage, adding native plants to your yard, or you’re ready to recycle the odds and ends around the house, then read on.
Invasive Species Task Force Volunteer Training Saturday, August 10, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) 8801 Gosling Road
Learn how non-native plants are impacting our local ecosystem and what actions you can take to keep them at bay. Dr. Hans Landel from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will provide training on the identification and removal of invasive plants and the critical functions of native vegetation. Trained volunteers will be able to join the ongoing effort to tackle invasives in our area.
Fall Organic Vegetable Gardening Class Saturday, August 24, 2019 from 9 a.m. to noon The Woodlands Emergency Training Center (16135 IH-45 South)
Beginning and veteran gardeners alike
will gain valuable information at this free, three-hour seminar. Learn about the
latest gardening trends, soil preparation, planting techniques and the best
plant varieties for the area. Join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agents
Emeritus (retired) Tom LeRoy and Bill Adams as they share their many years of
vegetable gardening experience and expertise. Books authored by both Tom and
Bill will be available. Montgomery County Master Gardeners will be on hand to
answer your gardening questions.
Walk in the Woods Nature Lecture Series: Our Neighborhood Bats Thursday, September 12, 2019 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) 8801 Gosling Road
Join this FREE lecture series, led by Diana Foss from Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department. Diana will discuss habitats, behaviors and
threats to bats living in urban areas. Come learn the benefits bats provide to
The Woodlands and where you can observe bats year-round in the Houston area.
22nd Annual Woodlands Landscaping Solutions Saturday, September 28, 2019 from 9 a.m. to noon The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park
This event is FREE!
Don’t miss this year’s event at its new location—the
Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park. Learn from area gardening and
landscaping experts at over 30 booths. Shop the marketplace. Pick up FREE
plants at the Montgomery County Master Gardener’s pass-along plant booth. Take a composting class. Guest speaker Lauren
Simpson will present, “Gardening for Pollinators” and Tom LeRoy will
present on “Lawn Care”. Enjoy live music by Andy McCarthy, kids’ activities and
food vendors. See you there!
Smarter Choices Seminar: Healthy Landscapes = Healthy Waterways Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Woodlands Emergency Training Center (16135 IH-45 South)
Learn how simple steps can result in greener lawns and healthier waterways. Practical methods for maintaining your lawn and landscape, as well as alternatives to chemical use will be offered.
Walk in the Woods Nature Lecture Series: Vampires, Zombies and Body Snatchers Thursday, October 10, 2019 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) 8801 Gosling Road
Join this FREE lecture series led by Megan McNairn from The
Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department. Megan will dive into the
creepy crawly world of bugs where monsters come to life and ghoulish creatures
go bump in the night.
Pollinator Gardening Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 9 a.m. to noon The Woodlands Emergency Training Center (16135 IH-45 South)
Lauren
Simpson, area pollinator gardening expert, will share her experience of
creating her own suburban pollinator garden. Lauren will offer practical
gardening tips, pollinator information and simple home garden design
strategies. Pollinator gardening resources and research-based gardening
information will be available. Montgomery County Master Gardeners will
answer your gardening questions.
Backyard Composting Class Saturday, November 2, 2019 from 10 to 11 a.m. 8203 Millennium Forest Drive
Learn
how simple and easy it is to turn kitchen waste, yard trimmings and leaves into
rich, handmade compost. Try out the variety of composting tools and equipment.
Find out how compost benefits plants, gardens and lawns.
Our outdoor composting class is taught by
certified, experienced Montgomery County Master Gardeners. Composting
resources, problem-solving, trouble-shooting and tips are provided at each
class. High-quality collapsible compost bins are available for purchase at a
reduced price.
Free class. No registration required.
Drip Irrigation and Rainwater Harvesting Workshop Saturday, November 2, 2019 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Woodlands Emergency Training Center (16135 IH-45 South)
Save water, time and money. Hands-on training teaches you everything you need to know to set up a rainwater harvesting barrel in your yard and to convert automated sprinkler systems to water-efficient drip systems. Additional rainwater harvesting options, such as rain gardens, will be discussed. Sign up for this water-saving workshop today!
3R Bazaar at The Woodlands Farmers Market Saturday, November 9, 2019 from 8 a.m. to noon The Woodlands Farmers Market at Grogan’s Mill (7 Switchbud Place)
Walk in the Woods Nature Lectures Series: An Introduction to Birds of The Woodlands Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) 8801 Gosling Road
Join this FREE lectures series led by Alisa Kline from Buffalo Bayou Park. Explore the vital role that birds play in our community’s ecosystem. Alisa offers tools and techniques for observing birds and behaviors and the benefits of documenting observations through iNaturalist.
Backyard Composting Class Saturday, December 7, 2019 from 10 to 11 a.m. 8203 Millennium Forest Drive
Learn
how simple and easy it is to turn kitchen waste, yard trimmings and leaves into
rich, handmade compost. Try out the variety of composting tools and equipment.
Find out how compost benefits plants, gardens and lawns.
Our outdoor composting class is taught by
certified, experienced Montgomery County Master Gardeners. Composting
resources, problem-solving, trouble-shooting and tips are provided at each
class. High-quality collapsible compost bins are available for purchase at a
reduced price.
