Hey, readers: Where do you recycle your batteries?

Napans, and maybe Glad You Asked readers in particular, are keenly interested in doing right by their recycling bins and landfills. After a recent column on the hassle of recycling used batteries, a number of readers contacted us with their solutions. I was not able to confirm some of the tips, but here are those I could confirm.

Peter Garaventa at Healthquest Fitness Center said the gym accepts used up household batteries from members and nonmembers alike. The facility has a tub in which they collect about 35 lbs. of batteries per week. You can drop off printer cartridges for recycling, too. For many, it’s more convenient to swing by the gym at 3175 California Blvd. than the Hazardous Waste Facility on Devlin Road. That’s where Healthquest takes all of those batteries in the end anyway.

Garaventa also noted another place that takes in universal waste — the toxic stuff everyone has around the house, like batteries, cleaners, paint, etc. FRG Waste Resources takes this stuff — and e-waste — from consumers at no charge. Garaventa found FRG while researching options for disposing of the plastic coverings on old exercise equipment. When I asked FRG President and CEO Tim Shea, he said that if consumers have some plastic that they’re not sure of, they could call 647-3700 and see if FRG will take it. FRG is in the south county, on Green Island Road near Culligan, so it’s a similar trip to the Hazardous Waste Facility, but it’s open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Hazardous Waste Facility accepts your waste only Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cartons and Crates, at 253 Walnut St. in Napa, takes the Styrofoam that items like television sets are packed in, as well as cardboard, foam and packing peanuts.

I neglected to include any Upvalley locations for recycling, so check these out: Town Hall in Yountville, City Hall in St. Helena and City Hall and Public Works in Calistoga.

In Napa, the County Office of Environmental Management has a couple of bins where they accept batteries — with a smile, if my visit is any indication. If you’re stopping by for other business, or if you’re in the neighborhood of Third and Coombs during business hours, it’s a convenient way to get rid of used batteries — rechargeable, hearing aid or regular.

Napan Sally Burnham uses a 5-gallon ice cream tub to collect batteries at her church. The tub is good, she said, because it’s not metal, so it won’t react to the battery chemicals, and it’s got a lid. It’d be pretty easy to follow her cue and set up a collection point at work or other gathering place and elect one person to make the trip to the Hazardous Waste Facility when the bucket gets filled. She dropped one off for me, so I think I might be elected as hazardous waste monitor here at the Register. Doesn’t sound like too bad a gig.

What is Glad You Asked?

Glad You Asked attempts to answer readers’ questions. If you’ve got a question and you can’t find the answer, send it to me at jdecker@napanews.com or 256-2215. I’ll battle my spring fever and brave the chilly April wind to track down the answer.