A new law in New York State took effect Monday, changing the way everyone gets rid of certain trash. Our Amanda Kelley tells us about the new rules and how they'll affect local retailers.

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WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- Rechargeable batteries keep these drills going, along with most other power tools, but when they're no longer good, New York State has new rules for these toxic items.

Director of Solid Waste Program Frank Visser said, "You can bring your rechargeable battery back to a place that sells rechargeable batteries, or you can bring them to a transfer station. We collect them there with the electronic waste that we collect."

It's a law that now requires retailers that sell rechargeable batteries to collect them on site for free. Something some say is a very simple process.

Home Depot Department Supervisor Josh Countryman said, "Anything over 25 pounds we do not take, or if it's a vehicle battery, we don't take those as well. But any power tool, rechargeable alkaline, nickel-cad, lithium, anything like that, we'll take back."

Some stores like Home Depot have been collecting these batteries for years and get about 50 to 100 per month.

Countryman said, "It's usually the same customers that bring back the rechargeable ones. The same select few. We don't actually have an abundance of people coming back in and returning them."

Officials say getting all rechargeable batteries recycled is an important step to helping the environment.

Visser said, "Most batteries contain heavy metals, which are considered toxic. Led, cadmium, mercury, so the goal is to get those materials out of the waste stream so they don't either end up in a landfill or get incinerated and some other component would end up in the ash."

Beginning Monday, anyone who throws out a rechargeable battery illegally could face fines. Retailers who violate the law could face a $200 fine for the first violation and up $500 for multiple offenses. Manufacturers violating the new law could face fines between $2,000 and $4,000. Retailers say the process is so simple, there's no reason not to help make this law a success.

Countryman said, "As a store, it's not really that big of a deal. It's a five minute job to empty it and five minutes to help the environment. It's not a big deal."

Other common rechargeable batteries, such as cell phone and laptop batteries, are also included in this law.