The newest generation of smart chargers are so affordable; they pay for themselves almost immediately in battery savings.
Our unit cost around twenty bucks, and will charge a single AA or AAA battery, or up to four at a time. The whole process is simplicity itself. You put the discharged battery in the unit (it only fits one way) and immediately it will read red for charging, green for charged or no indicator for dead.
A microprocessor monitors and controls the entire process including the temperature. It charges for about four hours at a slightly higher voltage to refresh the batteries. After they are “topped off” they go from red to green and can remain in the charger without damaging them.
To test our Rosewill CT 505 charger, I retrieved over fifty batteries from the recycle bin at a local store, all brands, all states of discharge and from all types of devices. To my surprise, I found that almost 10% of them were still good, probably taken out of a bad device or replaced prematurely. About the same amount were worn out and couldn’t be recharged. The balance were in various states of discharge and were all successfully recharged.
Since my test, I’ve recycled hundreds of batteries, some several years old without a single problem, and given them away to family and friends to be reused with the condition that they return them for fresh ones. Nothing says I love you like a fully recharged battery.
Tell your friends to save their old ones, and you can retrieve them from recycle bins (with permission of course) if you want to have a supply on hand.
Devices like remotes, LED flashlights and MP3 players work great with recharged batteries and the difference between a new one and recycled one is very slight. When they get so depleted they don’t take a charge, go ahead and recycle them.
It’s estimated that Americans dispose of 160,000 tons of single use batteries each year.
Imagine saving big bucks on batteries and easing a big burden on the planet at the same time – talk about a win – win. For more information go to: http://therecycleranch.wordpress.com or contact prepperpro@gmail.com
Preparedness is Fundamental 
I had no idea. I’m going to have to give this a try…is there anything particular you have to look for on the charger to know that it’ll work?
Thanks Andy, the Rosewill charger is available on Ebay I believe. Other than that do a google of “Alkaline Battery Charger”
I, too, appreciate the info. From my quick search on-line, Rosewill is discontinued. None on ebay. But, found a different name brand at ColonialMedical.com for $19.95. Heartland America has one for 39.99 but you get a $10 rebate. Reviews on both were good. I just sent off for the one from Colonial Medical and will give it a try.