Re[6]: [at-l] another stove question

[Bob C." <ellen@xxxxxxxxxx (Bob C.)]

>"...Let me know about those batteries." urges OB.

If you choose wisely, the same charger that repowers your digital camera
batteries will recharge your Zip.

Or as Shane points out a solar charger would do the same. Or one could choose to
eat hot foods only when the sun is shining, I suppose, and power directly from
the sun.

 The pollution from batteries stems mostly from burning the mercury. One could
use lithium, I suppose, since the politically correct types haven't publicized
the pollution damage lithium may cause, as yet.

But since mercury is an element that can neither be created nor destroyed, and
the major harm comes from burning it in the presence of other things, thus
creating poisonous compounds that escape to the atmosphere, my practice is to
bury my double A's in an out of the way place where they are unlikely to be
disturbed.

One should never place mercury batteries in a trash stream where they are likely
to be incinerated. I worry also about placing them a landfill, where the mercury
could combine with other wastes and escape to surface or ground water water.

I keep hearing about mercury recycling programs, but I have yet to see one in
Maine or any place along the Appalachian Trail. YMMV.

Weary