Sure,there are many people who just toss their batteries in the trash,just
because they are unaware of alternatives,or just take the easiest route.

But Radio Shack and other stores that sell batteries accept them for
recycling.And most auto stores require a "core" fee that is refunded when
you return the old LA battery,and they send them off for recycling.

Apparently, not. http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WPIE/Batteries/
... After February 8, 2006, all batteries in California must be recycled, or
taken to a household hazardous waste disposal facility, a universal waste
handler (e.g., storage facility or broker), or an authorized recycling facility.
...
It looks like that's partly due to federal regs, but I'm too lazy to look.

jason@nospam.com (Jason) wrote in news:jason-3007051017330001@pm4-broad-
55.snlo.dialup.fix.net:

Lead-acid and other types of batteries (NiCd and NiMH,Li-ion)are already
recycled,why should hybrid auto batteries escape that?

IMO,there would be valuable materials that could be recovered,in the
amounts that will be discarded.

The current edition of "Car and Driver" (magazine) has an interesting
article about the dark side of the hybrids on page 26. The date on the
cover is September 2005.

Many of the so called "greenies" have purchased hybrids because they
really care about the environment. I learned about something from the
article that I had never thought about before. What's going to happen to
those millions of batteries in hybrid vehicles after they wear out? They
will be placed in landfills. Imagine the harm that those batteries may do
to the enviroment after they are laying in a landfill for 50 years.

If you own or are planning to buy a hybrid vehicle, I advise you to read
the article.

Jason