We’re doing things a little different with this issue. First, our digital version of OCRRA’s newsletter is now clickable! If you see an important link, just click. We hope this makes it easier for readers online to go directly to the important information we are sharing.
More importantly, OCRRA’s spring 2026 newsletter is devoted to proper battery management. There is a lot of important information that every Onondaga County resident should know about the rechargeable batteries in their homes…and in our waste stream.
Here’s the main message: Rechargeable batteries become a fire hazard when they are damaged. That’s why they never belong in your home trash or recycling bins. Collection vehicles compact materials during pickups. If a lithium-ion battery gets crushed inside a truck, it can spark a fire – putting the workers in danger and potentially destroying a valuable piece of equipment.
Even if the rechargeable battery makes it all the way to one of our trash facilities, the casing can crack when it is dumped on a concrete floor or it can get punctured by a loader picking up a pile of trash or recyclable materials. We share these examples because we’ve seen them happen.
Rechargeable batteries should be taken to one of more than 50 drop-off locations in Onondaga County, where they can be properly managed without encountering typical hazards in the waste stream. Thanks to a grant from the Department of Energy, OCRRA has expanded options for drop-offs by adding battery recycling kiosks to four community centers in Syracuse. Check out page 3 for the list, plus instructions for taping or bagging batteries before drop-off.
Nearby, on page 2, you can see the list of acceptable and unacceptable items in OCRRA’s kiosks. Plus, learn why we are no longer accepting alkaline batteries and where you can take them now. Page 4 offers tips for safe charging from our friends at the National Fire Prevention Association and page 5 outlines our new battery management page on OCRRA.org.
Also on page 5, we did make some room to explain how to use OCRRA’s new Alexa skill. This handy resource offers users a way to ask for disposal or recycling guidance hands-free. It also provides more accessibility to those with visual impairments. We’re thrilled to offer this option.
Page 6 features our typical spring reminders for compost and mulch. Page 7, normally devoted to a message from our executive director, has been replaced by a fond farewell to him. Kevin Spillane retired on April 3, 2026. We wish him the best and will miss his steady hand as the Agency’s leader.
On the back cover, find reminders about OCRRA’s annual Earth Day Litter Cleanup. The registration deadline is April 14. Join thousands of Onondaga County residents who will roll up their sleeves to clean up our community on April 24-25. Ready? Read OCRRA’s 2026 spring newsletter now!
