Every year over three billion single use batteries are sold in USA alone. When they end up in landfills, they emit heavy metals and other toxic substances. To reduce the pollution created by used batteries, it's important to recycle them properly, or better yet, use rechargeable batteries.

A typical household has plenty of devices that use batteries. When they run empty, one should take the time to recycle them properly to ensure they don't end up in the landfills. In general batteries are accepted in certain collection centers - hence it would make sense to dedicate a place (a box, jar, shelf etc.) for used batteries in an easy to reach place where one can store them and worry about taking them to a recycling center once or twice a year (or as often as you like). In USA, one can find a location nearby at Earth911.com.

Even better solution is avoiding the piling up of old batteries altogether by using rechargeable batteries. In the long run it also saves money.

Don't forget that cell phones, laptops, electronic toothbrushes and many other gadgets also run on rechargeable batteries and when they can no longer hold a charge, you must recycle them as well. List of locations in the USA is available e.g. at Call2Recycle.