The article in the Herald recently on battery recycling made interesting reading. The article, it seems, pointed at what used to be called dry batteries, also known as alkaline or the type for which there was no means available to recharge them. Followi

The article in the Herald recently on battery recycling made interesting reading. The article, it seems, pointed at what used to be called dry batteries, also known as alkaline or the type for which there was no means available to recharge them. Following on from the appearance of the re-chargeable battery type, generally known as Ni-cad or Ni-cd and its associated charger, there are now available chargers for the dry battery or alkaline type that could not until recently be re-charged. Some of these chargers will do both types. Another method of charging the re-chargeable battery (Ni-cad or Ni-cd) and, in particular, the AA size, frequently used in many devices and children's toys, is by using the garden light that has become popular. These are usually supplied with at least one re-chargeable battery. They operate by being charged from a solar cell during the day when sunlight is available and then switch on when it gets dark and off when it gets light. If one exchanges the battery in the garden light with a battery that has gone 'flat' then it will re-charge when sunlight is available. The already charged battery being able to replace the 'flat' one. Doing my bit to save the planet! and, ignoring comments about parsimony, I have used this method for some time now with success. Ian KellyLyme Regis