On the eve of National Battery Day, which is celebrated on Feb. 18, Clark County Public Health's Solid Waste & Recycling team encourages residents to recycle their used batteries at designated drop-off locations.

A statement from Clark County emphasized the risk of batteries thrown into household garbage or recycling carts: they can explode and ignite fires. Such incidents not only endanger sanitation workers but can also inflict damage on the elaborate machinery managing our refuse. It's the simple neglect of proper disposal that invites risk into the mundane.

The Clark County Battery Drop-Off program makes fulfilling a civic responsibility more accessible. It invites residents to dispose of up to 10 batteries per person per day, free of charge, at several community drop-off sites. The list of acceptable battery types is extensive, including everyday alkaline batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and even outdated cell phones. For those with bulkier contributions, the county directs them to the household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities found at transfer stations.