The City of Red Deer and the Kerry Wood Nature Centre have launched their third annual school battery drive. On May 2nd 12 schools in the Red Deer Public and Catholic school divisions received 200 litre barrels and will endeavour to fill them to the brim during the month of May. Todd Nivens pictured above with a full barrel at the nature centre says the program hopes to divert about 2,200 kilograms of batteries and their associated toxic mix of cadmium, acid and other heavy metals from reaching the Red Deer Landfill. The toxic mix has the potential to damage land-fill liners and leach into groundwater says Nivens. Residents can also drop off batteries and other household hazardous waste for free, year round at the City's Waste Management Facility.