> the reason people dump batteries is because doing so the proper way is often onerous. Another likely reason, and likely the biggest one as well, is: how many

> the reason people dump batteries is because doing so the proper way is often onerous. Another likely reason, and likely the biggest one as well, is: how many folks, outside of the HN/techie crowd, are even aware of what "kind" of battery is in their various devices and is even aware that there are special rules for many battery types? Yes, the user guides (if one is even provided) do often have a page about "do not throw in the trash" -- but how many actually read the guides, much less the "warnings" page? And, more importantly, how many even know where the guide is at the end-of-life for the device when they are throwing it away in order to look up what special handling is needed? Yes, there's the trashcan with the slash icon on the back of the device. How many of the non-HN/techie crowd even know what that icon means to register enough that there is something 'different' about this item vs. everything else they throw away? And, how many even think to look on the back vs. just tossing the device in a trash bin?