Batteries, the new toxic waste

Tomorrow is your last day to toss those dead flashlight batteries in your garbage. Starting Thursday a new California law goes into effect. Among the things you can't just throw away anymore: batteries, microwaves, printers, thermostats, cell phones, flourescent lights, musical greeting cards and dead iPods. Got that?

Green LA Girl has done a little research to figure out where and how you're supposed to get rid of these things. This link may help you find the nearest disposal center.

Now as conscientious as we are about the environment, we wonder how this will work. Will we really dig out forgotten AA batteries from under the coffee grounds after we've tossed them in the garbage? Will there be battery police sifting through our apartment building's trash then come knocking, trying to identify the battery offender? And will people, if they set aside the new toxics, actually drive them to the disposal centers?

We hate to make this state law a city problem, but maybe someone could supply new red toxic bins to go next to the green waste bin, the black garbage bin and the blue recycling bin. At least that way we'd know they were serious about collecting all those dead microwaves and greeting cards.