While I was cleaning up the basement of a home in West Virginia (continuously occupied by same family since late 1800's), I discovered some glass containers that turned out to be batteries. Some still had what appears to be a carbon "core" in them as well as quite a lot of dried, white/gray powdery material.
I'm no chemist but I was concerned about how to dispose of the material properly as well as how to clean the glass containers without triggering some unwanted chemical reaction.
Any recommendations?