Photos by Jim Miller/ViewTop, Batteries In A Flash, 720 W. Cheyenne, Suite 170, owners Mike Dinielli, left, and Avel Ureno-Henningeen started a business to recycle batteries. Bottom, employee Sondra Clay searches for the items needed to fulfill orders the store has received.
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Getting the hang of this whole recycling, green-living mindset, mastering which materials are considered recyclable, deciphering what grade of plastic goes where and attempting to recall whether cardboard cereal boxes qualify as paper can be tough.
Learning about products that are now recyclable but ordinarily exist outside your realm of normal thought also can present a challenge.
Techno-whiz and business owner Mike Dinielli is attempting to make decoding the particulars of recycling a bit easier for North Las Vegas residents.
Dinielli is the owner of Batteries In A Flash Inc., 720 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 170, a company specializing in recycling for cell phone, laptop, camcorder, digital camera and sealed lead acid batteries.
The store is a participant in a program championed by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Company, a nonprofit entity that enlists local stores as drop-off points for used batteries.
"It's all in an effort to keep whatever we can out of the landfill," he said. "If you don't want to keep a power tool or cell battery, why not bring it somewhere where it can be recycled?"
Dinielli said the lithium iron found in most rechargeable battery pack cells are toxic and when thrown into landfills, can seep into the soil, contaminating the ground.
"We consider this a green store," he said. "It's all part of the effort to create a more green planet, and whatever we can do to help, we want to do it. That's why we joined the list of participants in the program."
Manager Wayne Latham said his staff is knowledgeable about recycling as it relates to the products carried in the store.
"We want to be able to talk with customers about why recycling batteries is important, as well as offering advice about what types of products will best suit your needs," he said.
Dropping off a battery costs nothing, Dinielli said.
Dinielli has been in the battery business online for seven years but decided to bring the store to the masses with a brick-and-mortar location earlier this year.
"We were so popular online, I had customers ask me daily when we would have an actual store where they could come and just pick up what they need instead of ordering and having to wait for it to be delivered," he said.
Dinielli said the store not only serves a green purpose, but also is a good source for people who are searching for hard-to-find batteries for old camera equipment.
"We have a great selection of batteries for old cameras and electronics," he said. "Both commercial and industrial grade."
The company also rebuilds, assembles and creates custom battery packs.
"There are so many different categories, just like with what can be recycled," he said. "We try to be as eco-friendly as we possibly can."
For more information, call 248-2423 or visit www.BatteriesInAFlash.com.
Contact North Las Vegas and Downtown View reporter Amanda Llewellyn at allewellyn@viewnews.com or 380-4535.
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