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Helping forests recharge Medford store will trade trees for batteries By PAUL FATTIG If you want to help Mother Nature jump-start areas devastated by wildfires, take your spent rechargeable batteries to the Batteries Plus store in Medford this weekend. For every one of the batteries recycled at the store during Earth Day weekend, owners Chuck and Peggy Watson will sponsor planting one tree through American Forests' Wildfire Releaf campaign aimed at helping to regenerate areas blackened by wildfires. "We're trying to raise the awareness of the importance of repairing our damaged ecosystems by recycling these batteries," Chuck Watson said. "A lot of people will toss them in the trash can. These batteries are not good for the Earth." But the rechargeable batteries, including everything from those used in cell phones and camcorders to those from cars and pickup trucks, are great for recycling, he said. Instead of becoming hazardous wastes, the lead, nickel, lithium and other material from the batteries are recycled, he said. As a result of year-round recycling efforts nationwide, most car batteries purchased today are comprised of nearly 90 percent recycled materials, he noted. The local Batteries Plus is one of 175 across the nation participating in the Earth Day weekend project. The firm has committed itself to sponsoring the planting of 20,000 trees nationwide which will be used to stabilize hillsides, reduce erosion, protect water quality and provide habitat for wildlife. American Forests is the nation's oldest nonprofit conservation group. For more information on the group, check out its Web site at americanforests.org. The joint effort is to help replant forests leveled by wildfires last summer, Watson said. "Our donations are going to be targeted for burned areas in Oregon," Watson said, noting that the group will be planting such species as Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, alder and incense cedar. Watson expects several hundred spent rechargeable batteries to be dropped off by the time the store closes Sunday afternoon. "But we can take only rechargeable batteries," he reiterated. "These are ones that are spent, no longer viable for reuse." Located at 3599 Crater Lake Highway, the store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.