Chances are, you’ve thrown batteries away this year. Honestly, we have, too.

The problem is, too many batteries are now in landfills, and their toxic metals can leach into our soil and water. That’s bad for all living things—and it can even cause cancer.

We can help stop the damage with one small step: Drop off our batteries at designated recycling spots instead of trashing them.

Want extra credit? The next time you need to buy batteries, try to purchase rechargeable ones. They’re more expensive (sorry!) but they recoup their cost after about 50 uses—and instead of the garbage, they’ll end up back in your TV remote / alarm clock / robot dog where they belong.